The 

MISSION 


JAPAN 


HAKODATE 


lOSAKi 


NAGASAKI 

KYUSHU^ 


FORMOSA 


HOKKAIDO 
OR  YEZO 


■vr.'  '’*vS  , Vv 

- ^ ■ ■ V'  ' =•< 


omro 


HIKOKU 


The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2017  with  funding  from 
Columbia  University  Libraries 


https://archive.org/details/japanmissionofOOmorg 


REV.  ROBERT  SAMUEL  MACLAY,  D.D. 


THE  JAPAN  MISSION  OF  THE 
METHODIST  EPISCOPAL 
CHURCH 


EDITED  BY 

Charles  H.  Morgan. 


Published  by  the 

OPEN  DOOR  EMERGENCY  COMMISSION 
OF  THE  Missionary  Society  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
150  Fifth  Avenue,  New  York 


Price,  Ten  Cents 


The Kev.  Rohekt  Samuel  Maclay,  D.D.,  holds, 
among  the  foremost  missionary  leaders  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  the  distinction 
of  being  an  active  agent  in  the  beginnings, of  our 
mission  m ork  in  the  three  important  fields  of  China, 
Japan  and  Korea.  With  the  remarkable  record  of 
twenty-five  years  in  the  early,  formative  period  of 
the  China  Mission,  the  advocacy  and  then,  for  fifteen 
years,  the  superintendency  of  the  Japan  Mission, 
and  the  earliest  Protestant  missionary  exploration 
of  Korea,  and  oversight  of  the  planting  of  our  mis- 
sion in  the  Hermit  Nation,  he  completed  his  long 
public  career  by  guiding  the  interests  of  the  Maclay 
School  of  Theology,  San  Fernandino,  California,  as 
dean,  from  1888,  when  he  retired  from  service  in 
Japan,  to  1893.  He  is  permitted  to  see  the  wide 
Oriental  territory  which  formed  the  theater  of  his 
labors  become  the  present  strategic  center  of  world 
politics  and  history,  and  to  know  that  to  him  was 
given  a principal  part  in  projecting  into  it  the  de- 
cisive Christian  factor. 


Grateful  acknowledgment  is  made  of  the 
valuable  service  rendered  by  the  following 
persons  in  the  preparation  of  this  booklet: 

Country  and  People,  pages  7-11. 

Rev.  Rufus  B.  Peery,  Ph.D.,  Saga,  Japan. 
Systems  of  Native  Religion,  pages  11-17. 

Rev.  Sidney  L.  Gulick,  D.D.,  Matsuyama, 
Japan. 

Modern  Christian  Missions,  pages  17-2.5. 

Rev.  Otis  Cary,  Kyoto,  Japan. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  Mission,  pages  2.5-45. 

Rev.  David  S.  Spencer,  Tokyo,  Japan. 
Outstanding  Facts,  46-51. 

Miss  Jennie  S.  Vail,  Tokyo,  Japan. 
Twentieth  Century  Union  Evangelistic  Move- 
ment, pages  51-55. 

Rev.  Julius  Soper,  D.U.,  Tokyo,  Japan. 
Japan’s  Appeal  to  the  Christian  Church,  pages 
55-59. 

Mr.  Verling  W.  Helm,  Tokyo,  Japan. 


FUJIYAMA  FROM  TAGANOURA 


JAPAN  MISSION 

COUNTRY  AND  PEOPLE 

Japan  is  a beautiful  land.  High  and  rugged  mountain 
ranges,  quaintly  terraced  hills,  tranquil  lakes  deep  bays  and 
island-dotted  seas  give  to  the  landscape  a rare  attractive 
ness.  Fine  old  crazy  pines,  delicate  filmy 
Natural  Beauty  cherry  blossoms,  stately  chrysanthemums, 
of  Japan  and  gorgeous  lotus  flowers  meet  the  eye 

everywhere  and  captivate  by  their  charm. 
Few  countries  have  been  more  highly  endowed  with  natural 
beauty  than  has  Japan. 

The  climate  is  also  kind  and  congenial,  being  for  the  most 
part  balmy  and  mild.  Passing  through  so  many  degrees  of 
latitude  Japan  naturally  presents  a variety  of  climate.  In  the 
extreme  north  the  summers  are  cool  and  bracing,  and 
Climate  the  rigid  winters  wrap  everything  in  a heavy 
mantle  of  snow  and  ice  ; but  in  the  southern  ex- 
tremity there  is  little  snow  and  the  winters  are  mild,  w'hile 
the  summers  are  damp  and  hot.  In  general  the  climate  is 
temperate,  differing  but  little  from  that  of  the  Gulf  States. 
But  the  excessive  humidity  in  the  atmosphere,  and  the  pro- 
portionally small  amount  of  ozone  and  eli-ctricity  make  it 
enervating  and  depressing  to  the  foreigner,  especially  during 
the  late  spring  and  summer  months.  The  rainfall  is  heavy, 
and  particularly  so  at  the  rainy  season  in  June,  when  it 
rains  almost  constantly  for  three  weeks.  The  climate  is 
favorable  to  agricultural  pursuits. 

The  soil  is  fertile,  yielding  fine  crops  of  rice,  wheat,  bar- 
ley, oats,  beans  and  other  p'  oducts.  A variety  of  good  fruits 
and  vegetables  is  also  produced.  Some  of  the  land  has  been 
brought  to  a high  state  of  cultivation,  and 
Farm  Products  two  crops  are  generally  raised  in  a year  on 
and  Agriculture  the  same  piece  of  ground.  Japanese  fields 


are  cut  up  into  siiiall  plots  like  our  vegetable  gardens,  and 
they  look  very  dirt'erent  from  the  broad  cultivated  fields 
of  the  West.  Little*  rivulets  are  made  to  flow  around 
through  them  and  by  these  they  are  well  irrigated.  Al- 
though the  Japanese  are  good  farmers,  their  agricultural 
implements  are  extremely  crude.  Plowing  is  done  with  one 
horse  and  a little  wooden  plow  with  an  iron  tip  ; and  the 
cultivating  is  mostly  done  by  hand,  with  a heavy,  awkward 
hoe.  Grain  is  reaped  with  the  sickle  and  thrashed  by  hand. 
Steam  i;)lows,  mowers,  hinders,  thra.shing  machines  and  other 
western  inn)lements  have  not  yet  been  dreamed  of  by  Jap- 
ane.se  farmers 


MISSION  DAY  SCHOOL,  FUKAGAWA,  TOKYO 


The  chief  contributions  of  Japan  to  the  world’s  markets 
are  tea,  silk,  rice  and  camphor.  The  rice  is  of  fine  (quality 
and  commands  a good  price.  The  silk  is  inferior  to  that  of 
Sjiain,  France  or  Italy  or  even  to  that  of  China, 
Exports  and  but  brings  Japan  a large  income.  Good  tea  is 
Imports  grown  here,  but  it  seems  to  be  losing  some  of  its 


8 


popularity  in  the  West,  because  the  greedy  merchants  have 
been  sending  abroad  a bad  quality.  The  largest  and  best 
part  of  the  world’s  camphor  supply  is  made  in  Japan. 
This  country  also  exports  cotton  cloths,  matches  and 
various  articles  of  small  merchandise  in  large  quantities 
to  China  and  Korea.  The  imports  exceed  the  ex:ports,  but 
this  is  neces.sarily  so  at  this  stage  of  the  nation’s  progress. 

The  material  expressions  of  civilization  are  to  be  found 
everywhere  in  this  land.  A tolerably  good  railway  system 
traverses  the  country  from  end  to  end  and  from  sea  to  sea  ; 

and  one  can  go  almost  anywliere  by  train  com- 
Public  fortably,  cheaply  and  in  reasonable  time.  The 

Improvements  post  and  telegraph  systems  are  quite  efficient, 
and  Schools  so  that  one  can  send  letters  and  telegrams 
quickly  to  every  village  and  town  in  the  empire. 
There  is  also  direct  telegraphic  communication  with  Europe 
and  America,  even  from  the  interior  towns.  In  the  large 
cities  manufacturing  houses  with  their  tall  chimneys  are 
visible  on  every  hand  and  all  kinds  of  industries  are  being 
rapidly  developed.  One  can  go  nowhere  without  finding 
good  schoolhouses,  with  the  cute  little  Japanese  children 
swarming  around  them  like  bees.  Primary  schools  are  to 
be  seen  in  every  village  and  hamlet,  while  the  larger  towns 
have  academies,  and  agricultural,  industiial,  normal  and 
other  schools.  There  are  also  five  government  colleges  and 
two  good  universities.  If  one  leaves  out  of  account  moral  and 
religious  instruction,  the  educational  system  in  vogue  is  an 
excellent  one.  There  are  few  private  schools  except  mission 
schools 

Although  she  commands  a large  i^lace  in  the  world's  at- 
tention, Japan  is  a small  country  Her  area  is  only  161,198 
square  mde.s — just  about  equal  to  that  of  Cali- 
Area  of  the  fornia  or  somewhat  larger  than  Great  Britain. 
Island  Empire  Japan  is  an  island  empire,  being  composed  of 
five  large  islands  and  countless  small  ones. 

The  Japanese  are  a cheerful  race,  fond  of  bright  fiowers, 
gay  scenes  and  light  amu-sements.  In  general,  they  are 
kind  and  friendly  in  their  attitude  toward  foreigners  and  are 


9 


a pleasant  people  to  live  among.  The  youth  study  well  at 
school  and  readily  imbibe  all  kinds  of  learning.  In  the  col- 
leges of  the  West  they  easily  maintain  their  places  by  the  side 
of  our  own  students.  Japanese  men  succeed 
Qualities  of  well  in  the  learned  professions  and  scientists 

the  People  and  specialists  of  all  kinds  are  becoming 

numerous.  The  people  are  able  to  assimilate 
everything  readily  because  the  Japanese  mind  is  naturally 
open  and  receptive  to  new  ideas,  no  matter  whence  they 
come.  It  is  generally  believed  that  the  Japanese  mind  is 
lacking  in  originality  and  inventive  power,  but  is  strong  in 
ability  for  imitation  and  adaptation. 

The  abundant  life 
and  energy  of  these 
peoi^le  in  compari- 
son with 

Their  Force,  other 
Ambition  Eastern 

and  Number  races  is 
one  of 
the  things  that  im- 
presses the  traveler- 
most  forcibly.  They 
are  up  and  doing, 
moving  about  with 
alacrity,  trying 
every  new  thing — in 
short,  they  are  a 
wide-awake,  enterprising  people.  They  have  an  inordinate 
amount  of  ambition,  not  only  to  do  what  other  men  have 
done,  but  even  to  surpass  them  and  set  the  pace  for  them. 

The  Jajjanese  are  a vigorous,  irrolific  race  and  the  popu- 
lation of  the  country  is  rapidly  increasing.  The  empire 
numbers  (1903)  about  forty-nine  million  souls.  Physically 
they  are  inferior  to  the  races  of  the  West,  being 
smaller  and  possessed  of  less  power  of  endur- 
Physically  Small  ance.  But  better  food  and  careful  bodily 
But  Hardy  training  will  largely  correct  this.  The  well- 


, JAPANESE  SOLDIERS,  FORMOSA 


10 


drilled  and  well-fed  little  Japanese  soldier  was  able  to  do 
about  as  much  work  in  the  recent  campaign  in  China  as  his 
far  more  robust  Western  allies. 

SYSTEMS  OF  NATIVE  RELIGION 

Japan  gives  the  double  impression  of  being  both  rehgious 
and  irreligious  She  has  56,334  officially  registered  Shinto 
temples,  134,305  Shinto  shrines,  71,831  greater  Buddhist 
temples  and  monasteries,  and  36,499  lesser 
Evidences  of  ones  Festivals  are  frequent  and  popular. 

General  Religious  Pilgrims  are  incredibly  numerous;  five 
Spirit  hundred  thousand  are  said  to  visit  Ise, 

and  nine  hundred  thousand  Kompira 
each  year.  Mendicant  pilgrims  abound  on  every  famous 
circuit.  Every  house  has  its  god  or  Buddha  shelf.  Family 
religion  is  more  visible  in  Japan  than  in  America  or 
England.  Gods  are  conceived  to  exist  by  the  myriad  and 
for  every  conceivable  purpose;  not  only  are  there  gods 
for  farmers,  for  travelers,  for  children,  for  soldiers,  and 
for  mothers,  but  aLso  for  robbers,  for  immoral  women,  and 
even  for  the  dramshop. 

On  the  other  hand,  in  conversing  with  the  people  on 
religious  matters  one  is  impressed  with  the  widespread 
ignorance  of  what  their  religions  teach.  This  is  true 
even  of  the  priests.  The  average  missionary 
Yet  Marked  Re-  knows  more  of  the  teachings  of  the  re- 
ligious Ignorance  ligions  of  Japan,  and  can  give  a more 
and  Doubt  intelligible  account  of  them  than  the 

average  Japanese.  The  educated  scoff  at 
religion,  while  the  uneducated  are  dominated  by  it  chiefly 
as  a social  habit  handed  down  from  antiquity. 

Broadly  speaking  Japan  has  three  religions — Shintoism, 
Buddhism  and  Confucianism.  “Shinto,”  “The  Way,”  or 
“The  doctrine  of  the  gods,”  is  the  aboriginal  religion 
of  Japan.  This  is  a combination  of  nature  and  ancestor 
worship,  and  is  of  course  polytheistic.  The  gods 
Three  Main  number  eight  hundred  myriads  according  to  the 
Religions  common  statement,  the  vast  majority  of  them 


11 


being,  however,  unknown  beyo2id  the  immediate  vicinity 
of  their  particular  temples.  Sliinto  has  no  idols.  Wor- 
ship is  directed  to  the  spirits  of  nature  or  to  an- 
Shintoism  cestors,  who  are  supposed  to  be  capable  of  giving 
direct  and  material  help.  It  depends  not  upon 
creed  or  conduct  but  upon  worship. 

Shinto,  being  the  religion  of  iirimitive  Japan,  was  wholly 
objective  and  artless.  The  people  felt  themselves  in  direct, 
constant  and  cordial  relations  with  the  gods,  who  lived 
among  them,  protecting  them  from  danger, 

A Simple  Primi-  providing 
five  Faith  them  with 

nourish/ 
ment  and  assuring  them 
.success.  Conduct,  how- 
ever, was  wholly  regulated 
by  custom,  ajiart  from 
creed  or  doctrine  ; hence, 

Shinto  had  no  moral  law, 
and  failed  to  discover  sin. 

It  necessarily  had  no  doc  / 
trine  of  salvation,  nor  any 
teaching  as  to  a future  life 
of  blessedness  or  of  mis/ 
ery,  thus  having  no  power 
to  elevate  the  people.  It 
has  no  unfulfilled  social 
ideal,  no  ambition,  no  mis- 
sionary motive,  no  teach- 
ing tending  to  produce  personal  or  social  progress.  It 
recognizes  no  other  i^eople,  and  furnishes  no  standard  for 
their  treatment.  Shinto  is  thu|  quite  inadecpiate  for  the 
new  conditions  of  life  upon  which  the  nation  has  suddenly 
entered,  with  its  international  relations  and  world-wide 
intercour.se. 

“The  most  important  religions  aspect  of  Shinto  to-day  is 
its  deification  of  the  emperor.  The  strength  of  m/dern  ^ 
Shinto  as  a religion  is  in  its  doctrine  of  the  divine  descent  of 


SHINTO  PRIEST  AND  SON 
Sacred  dog,  350  years  old. 


12 


View  of  the  the  imperial  house.  But  here,  too,  is  its  weakness; 
Emperor  for  in  proportion  as  the  science  of  antliropology 
destroys  this  belief,  Shinto  as  a religion  will  be 
wholly  routed.” 

Buddhism  first  came  over  from  Korea  in  534  a.  d.,  but 
not  until  Kobo  Daishi,  774-834,  introduced  the  principle  that 
Shinto  deities  were  incarnations  of  Buddhist  objects  of 
worship  did  the  new  rel^ion  spread  widely  among 
Buddhism  the  people.  By  this  step  Buddhism  was  adapted  to  ■ 
Modified  Japan,  while  Shinto  was  recognized  as  a true  re- 
ligion. The  two  religions  thus  became  fused  and 
for  many  centuries  their  distinctions  were  utterly  forgotten. 

Buddhism  has  two  types -^popular  Buddhism  and  esoteric 
Buddhism.  Po2iular  Buddhism  is  grossly  polytlieistic  and 
exceedingly  idolatrous.  Its  deities  are  natural  gods,  ances-  / 
tors  and  illustrious  men,  but  chiefly  personifications  /\ 
Its  Popu-  of  various  abstract  qualities.  Popular  Buddhism  ' 
lar  F orm  is  amazingly  like  the  more  degraded  forms  of  Roman 
-/  Catholicism,  depending  upon  materiali.stic  inter- 
pretations of  heaven  and  hell,  reso|,ting  to  magic  and  pious 
frauds,  conceiving  sin  and  salvation  entirely  apart  from 
character,  and  making  use  of  a gorgeous  ritual,  the  rosary, 
repetitious  i^rayers  and  a dead  language. 

Esoteric  or  p)hilosophical  Buddhism  is  knowu  to  relatively 
few,  and  these  chiefly  priests.  Its  ess^ce  is  a Panthl^ism 
which  denies  the  real  existence  of  anything  except  the 
absolute.  The  ul^mate  reality  of  being  is  un- 
its Esoteric  conscious,  unreasoning,  unfeeling,  will-le.ss.  Its 
Phase  chief  characteristic  is  necessary  law.  The  abso- 

lute being  is  called  Hotoke  ; salvation  consists 
in  completely  losing  one’s  .separate  identity  and  becoming 
one  with  Hotoke. 

Buddhism  developed  civilization,  it  is  true,  by  introducing 
art,  architecture,  literature  and  meditation,  but,  in  profior- 
tion  as  it  flourished  and  civilization  developed. 

Its  Results  luxury  and  pessimism  arose,  weakening  the 
middle  classes  and  undermining  the  social 
sanctions  of  the  state. 


Confucianism  came  early  to  Japan  but  had  relatively 
little  influence  until  the  seventeenth  century.  Chinese  Con- 
fucianism may  not  deserve  to  be  called  a religion.  But  in 
the  hands  of  the  moral  teachers  of  old  Japan  and 
Confucianism  as  practiced  by  the  noUer  Samurai  it  became 
Yielding  the  transfoimed  into  an  ethical  religion  known  as 
Bushido  Faith  Bushido,  the  Way  of  a Warrior.  Its  central 
principle  was  loyalty.  Obedience  of  the  infe- 
rior to  the  superior  was  the  key-word.  As  thus  adapted  to 
Japan  Confucianism  differs 
from  its  Chinese  aspect  in  the 
heroic  military  spirit  that  per- 
vades the  whole,  in  exalting 
loyalty  over  filial  piety  and  in 
ascribing  to  loyalty  and  filial 
piety  a religious  auihority. 

Bushido  produced  many  noble 
characters  whom  the  nation 
now  delights  to  honor.  But 
for  the  severe  tiaining  re- 
ceived by  her  ruling  classes 
under  the  guidance  of  Bushido 
Japan  could  not  to-day  have 
taken  her  place  so  easily  and, 
on  the  whole,  so  successfully 
among  the  civilized  nations 
of  the  earth. 

This  system  built  up 
again  the  sanctions  for  family 

and  social  life,  stating  in  detail  the  duties  of  each  class  and 
individual.  Bushido  restored  to  the  practical  life  of  the  na- 
tion those  choice  idealizing  spirits  whom  Bud- 
Its  Strength  dhism  had  for  centuries  been  drawing  off  to  the 
and  Weakness  mountains,  to  Japan’s  incalculable  injury.  It 
sought  to  establish  the  practical  life  of  the 
state  and  of  the  family  on  the  firm  foundation  of  character 
and  knowledge.  But  Busliido  had  no  systematic  propa- 
ganda, no  missionary  zeal ; it  had  no  worship  for  the  supreme 


BUDDHIST  PAGODA  AND 
CHERRY  BLOSSOMS,  NIKKO 


being.  It  bad  uo  church,  no  priesthood,  no  organism . 1 1 

was  a system  of  thought,  a philosophy  of  life,  a religious 
ethic,  but  not  truly  nor  completely  a religion.  Hence,  its 
complete  collapse  on  the  advent  of  Occidentalism.  An  impor- 
tant  tenet  of  Bushido,  as  of  Confucianism,  was  to  let  the  gods 
severely  alone.  It  contained  no  doctrine  of  salvation  for  tlie 
sorrowing  and  self-condemned.  It  was  a system  of  stern  polit 
ical  morality  and  of  personal  stoicism  ; it  was  thus  unfitted  to 
reacli  and  uplift  the  sinning,  downcast  and  helpless  masses. 

Is  Japan  now  a Shinto,  a Confucian,  or  a Buddhist 
Present  state  ? Is  any  one  native  religion  alone,  or  are  all 
Religion  these  religions  combined,  sufficient  for  the  moral  and 
religious  needs  of  Japan,  as  she  enters  on  the  inter- 
national period  of  her  life  ? 

Buddhism  is  clearly  out  of  the  race.  Philosophic  Bud- 
dhism, being  extreme  individualism,  has  no  social  ideal  or 
motive ; it  can  teach  no  social  virtue  and  hold  out  no  incen- 
tive to  social  action.  So  far  as  popular  Buddhism 
Buddhism  has  social  ideals  and  motives  it  has  acquired  them 
Inadequate  from  Shinto  and  has  in  this  respect  abandoned  its 
central  principle.  So  far  then  as  popular  Buddhism 
controls  the  present  social  order  and  the  destinies  of  the 
people,  Japan  is  a Shinto,  not  a Buddhist,  state. 

Confucianism  or  Bushido  is  likewise  out  of  the  race.  It 
was  a thoroughgoing  military  system ; it  exalted  the  mili- 
tary virtues.  Manhood  as  such  has  no  rights.  It  scorned 
industrialism  and  commercialism.  Representa- 
Confucianism  tive  government  by  the  people  and  for  the  peo- 
Outgrown  pie  is  utterly  alien  to  its  thought.  Popular 
education  was  inconceivable,  unnecessary,  and 
even  absurd.  “ The  people  ai’e  to  be  ruled,  not  instructed,” 
was  a well-known  proverb  among  the  rulers.  Bushido 
necessarily  and  completely  collapsed  on  the  introduction  of 
western  thought  and  methods  of  government,  education, 
commerce  and  popular  rights.  New  Japan  is  clearly  not  a 
Confucian  state. 

With  much  plausibility  may  Shinto  be  urged  as  the 
dominant  religious  factor  of  New  Japan.  The  unifying 


15 


Shinto’s  Claim  political  force  of  the  modern  era  is,  as  we  have 
Considered  already  seen,  reverence  for  the  emperor  as  the 
living  descendant  of  the  gods.  From  this  view- 
point Japan  is  clearly  a Shinto  state. 

But  it  may  be  questioned  whether  this  imperial  apotheo- 
sis is  in  reality  the  root  principle  of  the  civilization  and 
energy  and  structural  forms  of  Japan’s  new  social  order. 

From  the  viewpoint  of  the  writer,  Chri^tianity, 
Christianity  rather  than  any  of  tlie  older  religions,  is  giving 
Inspiring  the  to  Japan  her  fundamental  intellectual,  political, 
N evr  Order  moral  and  relig'ous  conceptions  and  practices.  A 
constitution  and  representcative  government, 
popular  education,  a civil  code  guaranteeing  to  every  man, 
regardless  of  his  social  rank,  perfect  freedom  of  belief  and 
thought;  the  wide  abandonment  of  the  hereditary  principle, 
the  exaltation  of  commerce  and  industry — these  are  con- 
ceptions and  practices  wholly  alien  to  the  old  religions. 
They  are,  furtliermore,  universally  accepted  in  New  Japan. 

We  must,  then,  ask  ourselves  whence  Japan  secured  these 
new  conceptions  and  practices.  Japan  secured  them  by 
wholesale  adoption  of  western  civilization.  And  a candid 
examination  of  western  history  shows  that 
The  Root  in  the  West  has  them  to-day  as  a result  of  nine- 
Christian  Views  teen  centuries  of  Christian  teaching  and  ex- 
perience. They  all  have  their  root  in  the 
Christian  view  of  God  as  Father  and  men  as  His  children 
and  consequently  as  brethren. 

The  pi  oblem  now  confronting  Japan  is  whether  she  can 
work  successfully  the  institutions  of  a Christian  social  order 
without  adopting  consciously  and  whole-heartedly  the 
Christian  religion  with  its  personal  God,  it.s 
Full  Acceptance  saving,  because  divine,  Christ,  and  its  teach- 
of  Christianity  ing  Church.  Christians  are  stoutly  maintain 
Necessary  ing  that  Japan  s new  civilization  wdll  make 

shipwreck  unless  she  becomes  thoroughly 
Christian.  The  old  religions  cannot  furnish  the  ideals 
needed,  nor  do  they  have  the  moral  motive  essential  to  the 
production  of  sterling  character  among  the  masses.  Japan 


16 


must  therefore  become  Christian  or  abandon  her  new  social 
order.  And  such  is  the  actual  trend  of  events. 

MODERN  CHRISTIAN  MISSIONS 

Fifty  years  ago  it  was  impossible  for  missionaries  to  enter 
Japan.  The  very  name  of  Christianity  was  hated.  The  won- 
derful work  commenced  three  centuries  before  by  Xavier  had 
been  terminated  by  bitter  persecutions  in  whicli 
The  Period  myriads  of  Roman  Catholics  lost  their  lives.  Stei’ii 
of  Waiting  measures  were  adopted  for  ferreting  out  any  wlio 
might  be  secret  adherents  of  the  liated  religion. 
In  every  town  was  posted  a notice  declaring  that  tlie  evil 
sect  known  as  Christianity  was  strictly  i^rohibited  and  that 
rewards  would  be  given  to  any  who  gave  infor- 
Japan  mation  against  its  followers.  Householders  were 

Closed  to  required  to  obtain  each  year  from  the  Buddhist 

Christianity  jiriests  a certificate  that  no  member  of  the  family 


DECREE  AGAINST  CHRISTIANITY 
The  above  copy  of  the  decree  of  the  Japanese  Government  against  Chris- 
tianity was  originally  written  on  a wooden  board.  This  is  the  translation; 

ORDER 

Hitherto  the  Christian  Religion  has  been  forbidden,  and  the 
order  must  be  strictly  kept ! 

The  corrupt  religion  is  strictly  forbidden  ! ! 

Done  in  the  .3d  month  of  the  4th  [yearj  of  Kyo  (March,  18681. 

By  order  of  the  Imigami  Prefecture. 


. 17 


was  a Christian.  In  many  parts  of  the  country  the  people 
were  made  to  show  by  trampling  on  the  cross  their  hatred 
of  the  religion  that  it  represented.  Books  containing  refer- 
ences to  Christianity  or  even  to  European  countries  were 
prohibited.  The  Japanese  were  not  allowed  to  visit  foreign 
lands.  The  only  Europeans  allowed  to  trade  with  Japan 
were  a few  Dutch  merchants  who  were  willing  to  .submit 
to  humiliating  conditions.  It  is  said  that  sometimes  they 
were  even  forced  to  trample  on  the  cross. 

Christians  of  the  West  longed  to  enter  these  closed  doors. 
Roman  Catholics  prayed  that  the  laud  whose  soil  had  been 
stained  by  the  blood  of  so  many  martyrs  might  again 
resound  with  prai.se  to  Jesus  and  Mary.  Prot- 
First  estants  were  interested  in  what  they  heard  of 

Attempt  to  the  Japanese  and  longed  to  give  them  the  Gos- 
Find  Entrance  pel.  In  1844  a French  priest  and  in  1846  a 
Protestant  missionary  took  up  their  residence 
in  the  LooChoo  Islands,  which  at  ihat  time  loosely  acknowl- 
edged their  allegiance  to  Japan.  The  Prot-  stant  was  Dr. 
Bel telheim,  a converted  Jew.  He  was  surrounded  by  guards 
and  spies  who  did  their  best  to  keep  him  from  holding  any 
communication  with  the  peoi^le.  The  tracts  that  he  distrib 
uted  were  immediately  after  gathered  up  by  the  officials  and 
returned  to  him.  Notwithstanding  these  difficulties  he  bap- 
tized three  persons.  He  also  prepared  a Japanese  translation 
of  one  of  the  Gospels,  which  was  afterwards  i^riuted.  In 
China,  Dr.  Giitzlaff  and  Dr.  S.  Wells  Williams  prepareil 
other  translations  by  the  help  of  some  shipwrecked  Japanese 
sailors.  An  attempt  was  made  to  return  these  men  to  their 
native  land,  but  they  were  not  permitted  to  land  and  the 
ship  that  brought  them  was  fired  uiion. 

The  Period  of  First  Seed-Sowing,  1859-1872 
In  1853  Commodore  Perry  with  the  American  exjiedition 
reached  Japan,  and  the  next  year  he  succeeded  in  negotiating 
a treaty.  This  did  not  give  Americans  iierrais- 
Treaties  Pre-  sion  to  reside  in  the  country,  but  it  was  the 
pare  the  Way  opening  wedge.  A later  treaty,  arranged  by 


18 


Townsend  Harris,  permitted  residence  in  certain  cities 
after  July,  1859.  This  treaty  formed  the  model  for  those 
soon  after  made  with  England  and  other  countiies. 

Missionaries  at  once  made  use  of  the  new  opportunities. 
Tlie  first  vvas  the  Rev.  J.  Liggins,  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
Church  of  the  United  States,  who  reached  the  country  in  May, 
two  months  before  the  time  set  by  the  treaty,  and 
First  Mis-  who  was  soon  joined  by  the  Rev.  C.  M.  (afterward 
sionaries  Bishop)  Williams. 

In  October  came 
J.  C.  Hepburn,  M.  D.,  of 
the  American  Presbyterian 
Board;  and  in  November, 
the  Revs.  S.  R.  Brown  and 
G.  F.  Verbeck  and  D.  B. 

Simmons,  M.D  , all  of  the 
Reformed  (Dutch)  Church 
in  America. 

Great  difficulties  sur- 
rounded the  Oldening  work 
Remembrance  of  political 
troubles  that  came 
Obstacles  from  the  former 
and  Aids  propagation  of 
Roman  Catholi- 
cism made  the  Govern- 
ment fear  Christianity.  Its 
profession  was  still  pro- 
hibited. Spies  watched  the  dr.  (hudo  f.  vekbeck 

movements  of  the  mission- 
aries. Persons  suspected  of  being  under  their  influence 
were  liable  to  be  arrested.  A difficult  language  had  to  be 
learned  before  direct  instruction  could  be  given.  Yet  there 
were  some  favorable  circumstances.  Many  of  the  educated 
classes  were  eager  to  learn  about  western  lands  and  their 
civilization.  Being  able  to  read  Chinese  books,  they  bought 
lai’ge  numbers  of  those  that  had  been  prepared  by  mission 
aides  in  Cliina,  and  these  contained  many  references  to  Chris 


tian  doctrines.  Many  young  men  desired  instruction  in  the 
English  language.  Of  those  who  were  then  taught  by  the 
missionaries,  a few  afterwards  became  Christians;  others, 
and  among  them  some  who  attained  positions  of  great  in- 
fluence, had  their  prejudices  allayed.  After  a time  some 
of  the  missionaries  were  employed  by  the  Government  itself 
as  teachers  of  English  or  of  science. 

In  1864  occurred  the  first  baptism,  that  of  a man  who 
had  been  the  teacher  of  a missionary.  Two  years  later 
there  were  baptized  an  official  of  high  rank  with 
First  two  of  his  relatives — their  study  of  Christianity 
Baptisms  having  come  from  the  desire  to  know  the  contents 
of  a Bible  which  they  had  found  floating  on  the 
water,  where  it  had  probably  been  dropped  from  some 
foreign  ship. 

In  1865  it  was  discovered  that  many  descendants  of  the 
Roman  Catholic  Christians  still  adhei'ed  to  their  faith. 
Several  thousand  were  arrested  and  banished  from  their 
homes.  The  representatives  of  foreign  govern- 
Persecution  ments  at  once  protested  against  the  persecution 
and  were  told  by  the  Japanese  officials:  “Our 
Government  rests  upon  the  Shinto  faith,  which  teaches 
the  divinity  of  the  Mikado.  Christianity  tends  to  dispel 
that  belief ; hence  the  Government  has  resolved  to  resist  its 
propagation  as  it  would  resist  the  advance  of  an  invading 
army.”  The  persecution  extended  to  those  who  were  be 
coming  interested  in  Christianity  as  taught  by  Protestant 
missionaries,  and  several  persons  were  thrown  into  prison, 
where  at  least  one  of  them  died. 

Up  to  tlie  spring  of  1872  only  ten  converts  had  been 
baptized  by  the  Protestant  missionaries.  In  March  of  that 
year  the  rite  was  administered  in  Yokohama  to  nine  others, 
who,  with  two  previously  baptized,  were  organ 
Range  of  ized  into  wliat,  without  taking  any  denomi- 
Early  Work  national  name,  was  called  “ The  Church  of  Christ 
in  Japan.”  In  addition  to  the  Roman  Catholics 
and  Protestants,  a few  persons  had  at  this  time  been  bap- 
tized in  connection  with  the  Russo-Greek  Churcli. 


30 


The  Period  of  Rapid  Growth,  1873-1889 
In.  1873  the  edicts  against  Christianity  were  taken  down. 
Though  the  laws  themselves  were  not  repealed,  it  was  evi- 
dent that  the  Government  would  not  enforce  them.  During 
the  new  era  then  commencing,  there  was  a great 
Eager  desire  to  adopt  western  customs  and  ideas.  Rail- 

Interest  roads,  machinery  and  other  material  products  of 

Occidental  civilization  were  in  demand.  Chris- 
tianity, as  the  religion  of  the  West,  was  thought  worthy  of 
investigation.  Large  audiences  listened  to  its  proclamation. 
Young  men  and  women 
flocked  in  increasing  numbers 
to  Christian  schools.  After 
graduation  many  of  them  be- 
came earnest  and  effective 
pastors  or  evangelists.  Bibles 
and  other  Christian  hooks 
found  a ready  sale.  There 
were  large  accessions  to  the 
churches.  Many  of  the  local 
churches  were  self-support- 
ing; and  there  were  also  gen- 
erous contributions  for  evan- 
gelistic,  educational  and 
philanthropic  purposes.  The 
growth  in  all  directions  was 
so  rapid  that  it  began  to  be 
said,  even  by  those  who  hated 
Christianity,  that  probably 
by  the  end  of  the  century  it 
would  be  the  predominant  religion  of  the  land.  The  churches 
of  America  and  England,  encouraged  by  the  glad  news 
coming  from  Japan,  sent  forth  new  missionaries  and  large 
contributions  for  the  enlargement  of  the  work.  It  was 
during  these  years  that  Dr  Joseph  Hardy  Neesima  did  his 
great  work  of  education  and  evangelization,  largely  at  Kyoto. 

These  years  were  not  without  their  trials.  There  were 
many  who  bitterly  opposed  the  advance  of  Chri.stianity. 


JOSEPH  hardy  neesima,  LL.  D. 
(Also  picture,  at  a later  period, 
on  the  front  cover.) 


21 


Buddhism  was  aroused  to  unwonted  activity  and  strove  to 
keep  its  followers  from  going  over  to  the  new  faith.  Those 
who  did  so  met  with  persecution  from  relatives  and 
neighbors.  Many  persons  were  held  back  by  fear  of 
General  losing  trade  or  official  position.  The  movements  of 
View  the  missionaries  were  hampered  by  regulations 

that  prevented  residence  in  the  interior,  except  as 
employed  by  Japanese,  and  sometimes  it  was  difficult  to 
procui’e  passports  for  travel.  The  high  pressure  at  which 
the  work  was  carried  on  and  the  numerous  perplexities  that 
arose  in  adjusting  the  relations  between  the  missionaries 
and  the  Japanese  Chi'is- 
tians  caused  a severe  ner- 
vous strain  that  led  to 
many  failures  in  health. 

In  retrospect,  however, 
these  ti  ials  to  a great  ex- 
tent fade  from  sight,  while 
the  period  is  remembered 
as  one  of  great  opportuni- 
ties, of  rapid  growth  and 
of  high  hopes. 

The  statistics  of  Protest- 
ant missions  for  1888 
showed  249  churches  with 
a membership  of 
Results  25,514,  the  number 
of  adults  baptized 
during  the  year  covered  by 
the  reports  being  6,959.  The  Roman  Catholics  reported  for 
the  same  year  a population  of  39,298.  The  Russo-Greek 
Church  at  that  time  probably  numbered  not  far  from  16,000 
believers. 


Our  Church  at  Nagoya, 
Built  in  1889 


The  Period  of  Drought,  1890-1900 

The  movement  in  favor  of  Christianity  reached  its  height 
about  1888  or  1889  and  was  followed  by  a sudden  reaction. 
This  was  in  part  owing  to  political  events,  especially  to  the 


32 


irritation  felt  by  the  Japanese  against  foreign  nations 
because  of  the  failure  to  obtain  a revision  of  the  treaties. 
Conservatives  used  the  opportunity  to  arouse  a strong  nation- 
alistic spirit.  Christianity,  which  had  shared  in 
Reaction,  the  favor  shown  to  western  ideas,  now  liecame 
Controversy,  the  object  of  bitter  attacks.  Peoide  were  less  ready 
Decline  to  listen  to  preaching,  the  number  of  pupils  in 

Christian  schools  rapidly  decreased,  there  were 
fewer  additions  to  the  churches  and  the  faith  of  many  per- 
sons grew  cold.  Hitherto  there  had  been  but  little  doctrinal 
discussion  ; but  the  Unitarians  of  America,  who  had  re- 
cently entered  the  held,  made  it  a large  part  of  their  work 
to  send  controversial  publications  to  evangelists  and  other 
educated  Christians.  The  liberal  missionaries  from  Ger- 
many, though  less  destructive,  gained  considerable  inhuence. 
Moreover,  the  theological  discussions  of  Europe  and  America 
were  followed  with  interest  by  those  who  could  read  English 
or  German.  The  fondness  of  the  Jajmnese  for  novelty,  their 
tendency  to  reject  supernaturalism  and  a desire  to  show 
their  independence  of  the  missionaries  made  the  preachers 
more  ready  to  accept  and  proclaim  strange  doctrines.  Much 
was  said  about  the  necessity  of  having  the  churches  put 
away  dogmas  and  customs  that  had  come  from  foreign 
lands  in  order  that  there  might  be  a Japanese  Christianity. 
Theological  unrest  led  to  spiritual  decline  and  relaxation  of 
evangelistic  efforts. 

The  growth  of  the  commercial  spirit  also  retarded  the 
advance  of  the  churches.  Especially  after  the  war  with 
China,  in  1894-5,  there  was  a great  expansion  of  trade.  The 
thoughts  of  the  people  were  not  easily  turned  to 
Commercial-  religious  subjects.  Even  among  the  preachers 
ism  the  evil  influence  was  felt,  so  that  many  who  had 

been  chilled  by  rationalism  and  ultra-nationalism 
gave  up  the  ministry  to  engage  in  trade. 

Nevertheless,  this  period  of  reaction  was  not  without 
some  encouraging  features.  J'he  new  Constitution  of  18b9 
had  granted  religious  freedom.  Though  the  spirit  of  this 
concession  was  often  violated,  especially  in  military  and 


educational  circles,  such  infringements  met  with  popular 
disapproval  and  at  length  became  less  frequent.  During  the 
war  with  China  permission  was  given  for  distributing  the 
Scriptures  among  soldiers,  and  Christian  workers 
Brighter  were  allowed  to  accompany  the  army.  Revised 

Features  treaties  made  it  possible  after  1899  for  mission- 

aries to  travel  and  reside  in  any  part  of  the  empire. 
While  the  faith  of  many  Christians  became  cold,  that  of 
others  became  stronger  and  more  intelligent,  as  they  saw 
how  necessary  it  was  for  them  to  cling  to  a divine  Saviour. 


GIRLS’  SCHOOL,  HAKODATE,  GRADUATING  CLASS 

Christians  became  recognized  as  leaders  in  charitable  and 
reformatory  efforts.  Even  during  the  darkest  time,  the 
number  of  Christians  was  slowly  increasing. 

The  statistics  for  1900  show  538  Protestant  churches  with 
42,451  members.  The  adult  baptisms  for  the  year  were 
3,139.  The  Roman  Catholics  for  the  same  year 
Statistical  reported  54,602  adherents  and  the  Russo-Greek 

Showing  Church  25,994.  In  these  numbers  are  included 

children,  as  is  not  the  case  with  the  reports  of 
most  of  the  Protestant  bodies. 

•’I 


The  Period  of  Fresh  Promise  with  the 
New  Century 

What  is  to  be  the  designation  of  the  new  era  that  has 
just  commenced  with  the  opening  century  it  is  too  early  to 
say,  but  there  is  reason  to  hope  that  God  is  about ' to  do 
great  tilings  I’or  us  which  shall  make  iis  glad.  Apparently 
the  reaction  has  spent  its  force.  Tiiere  is  among  the  Chris- 
tians an  earnest  desire  for  enlargement.  In  1901  the  Japanese 
churches  united  with  the  missionaries  in  a Twentieth  Cen- 
tury Forward  Movement.  Evangelistic  services  were  held 
in  all  parts  of  the  country. 

Denominational  names 
were  forgotten,  as  nearly 
all  the  churches  united 
their  prayers  and  efforts 
for  the  salvation  of  men. 

Preachi  ng  has  become 
more  spiritual  and  personal 
The  preaching  places  are 
crowded  Tracts  are  wide- 
ly distributed.  The  Scrip- 
tures are  having  a large 
sale.  Thousands  of  persons 
have  signed  cards  on  which 
they  declare  their  desire  to 
receive  instruction.  Many 
have  already  decided  to  fol- 
low Christ.  Some  of  them 
have  been  received  into  the 
churches.  It  is  as  yet  im- 
possible to  tell  to  what  this  work  will  grow  ; but  it  is 
evidently  the  Lord’s  work  and  it  is  wonderful  in  our  eyes. 
May  God  grant  that  hereafter  this  era  may  be  known  as  a 
Period  of  Blessed  Fruition  ! 

THE  METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  MISSION 

The  treaty  negotiated  by  Commodore  Perry  between 
the  United  States  and  Japan  was  ratified  in  1854.  Between 


REV.  D.IVID  S.  SPENCER 


25 


this  date  aud  that  of  the  beginning  of  the  Japan  Mission  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  in  the  latter  half  of  the 
year  1873,  Methodist  Episcopal  Missions  were  founded  in  In- 
dia, Switzerland,  Denmark,  Bulgaria,  Italy 
Why  the  Start  and  Mexico.  Tlie  older  mission  fields  of  the 
was  Delayed  Church,  together  with  those  named,  were 

rapidl}'  expanding  during  these  two  decades 
This  will  explain  the  lateness  of  the  beginning  of  our  work 
in  Japan. 

The  Rev.  Robert  Samuel 
Maclay,  D.D. , one  of  our 
first  missionaries  to  China. 

was  t li  e 
Dr.  Maclay  leader  in 

Superintendent  founding 
this  mission. 

His  attention  and  heart 
were  first  drawn  to  Japan, 

August  9,  1853,  by  Com- 
modore M.  C.  Perry,  who 
that  day  returned  with  his 
squadron  from  Japan  to 
Hongkong  harbor  and  an- 
nounced his  successful 
commencement  of  negoti- 
ations for  opening  Japan  to 
the  world.  Before  the  de- 
parture of  Dr.  Maclay  from 
China  in  1871,  the  Foochow  Mission  forwarded  to  our  Mis- 
sionary Society  an  appeal  for  the  establishment  of  a 
Mission  in  Japan.  In  1872  Dr.  Maclay  made  strong  appeals 
through  our  Church  papers  for  funds  with  which  to  open 
this  work,  and  in  the  following  November  the  General 
Missionary  Committee  took  the  first  step  toward  establish- 
ing a Mission  in  Japan  by  appropriating  ^25,000  for  that  pur- 
pose. Bishop  Jesse  T.  Peck  at  once  appointed  Dr. 
Four  Other  Maclay  Superintendent  of  the  Japan  Mission,  and 
Pioneers  the  Revs.  John  C.  Davison,  Julius  Soper  and  Mer 


26 


riam  C.  Harris  were  aiipointed  a little  later.  The  Rev. 
Irvin  H.  Correll,  originally  appointed  to  China,  and  at 
Yokohama  en  route  thereto,  was  transferred  by  Bishop  Har- 
ris to  this  Mission.  By  August  8, 1873,  all  these  missionaries 
with  their  wives,  together  with  Bishop  Harris,  Dr.  J ohn  P. 
Newman  and  wife.  Dr.  Janies  W.  Waugh  of  our  Indian  Mis- 
sion, Dr.  Ross  C.  Houghton  of  the  Northern  New 
Mission  York  Conference,  and  Dr.  William  A.  Spencer  of 
Organized  the  Central  Illinois  Conference,  had  reached  Yoko- 
hama, and  on  that  evening  the  Jlission  was  organ- 
ized by  Bishop  Harris,  at  the  residence  of  Dr.  Maclay,  60 
Bluff,  Yokohama.  The  Rev.  Geo.  Cochran,  D.D.,  and  D. 
MacDonald,  M.D.,  of  the  Canada  Methodist  Mission,  were 
present  at  this  first  meeting,  and  with  other  visiting  bretli- 
ren  spoke  warm  fraternal  greetings. 

At  this  meeting  these  Methodist  leaders  proceeded  to  maji 
out  “four  old-fashioned  Methodist  circuits;  the  first  and 
second  to  be  called  the  Yokohama  and  Yedo  (Tokyo)  cir- 
cuits, together  with  other  portions  of  the  island 
The  Field  of  Nippon  (Hondo)  on  which  these  cities  are  sit- 
Occupied  uated,  as  we  may  be  able  to  occupy.  The  third  to 
be  called  the  Hakodate  circuit,  embracing  the  city 
of  Hakodate  and  such  other  portions  of  the  island  of  Yezo 
(Hokkaido),  on  which  it  is  situated,  as  we  may  be  able  to 
cultivate.  The  fourth  to  be  called  the  Nagasaki  circuit, 
comprising  the  city  of  Nagasaki  and  such  other  portions  of 
the  island  of  Kyushu,  on  which  it  is  situated,  as  we  may  be 
able  to  occupy.” 

In  other  words,  with  characteristic  Methodist  faith, 
these  missionary  fathers  proposed  to  preempt  for  Meth- 
odism the  three  largest  islands  of  the  Japanese  Empire, 
containing  then  a population  of  about  30,000,000,  their  out- 
side stations  being  1,300  miles  apart,  and  the  extremes  of 
territory  distant  from  each  other  nearly  2,000  miles.  Dr. 
Maclay  and  Mr.  Correll  located  in  Yokohama,  Mr.  Soper  in 
Tokyo,  Mr.  Davison  in  Nagasaki  and  Mr.  Harris  in  Hakodate, 
so  that  by  the  end  of  January,  1874,  our  pioneers  had  planted 
themselves  in  the  four  quarters  of  the  empire. 


27 


True  to  their  history,  the  noble  women  of  our  Church  saw 
their  opportunity,  and  the  steamer  of  October  28th.  1874, 
brought  Miss  DoraE.  Schoonmaker  (now  Mrs.  Prof.  Henry  M. 

Soper  of  Chicago)  as  the  first  representative  to 
Woman’s  Japan  of  the  Woman's  Foreign  Missionary  So- 
Work  Begun  ciety.  In  November  Miss  Schoonmaker  opened 
her  school  of  a dozen  boys  and  girls  in  Tokyo, 
and  amusing  and  instructive  stories  are  told  of  the  difficulty 
of  getting  students  to  attend  it,  owing  to  the  prejudices  of 
the  pe('ple  against  Christianity. 

Our  first  Methodist  converts  were  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kichi, 
baptized  by  Mr.  Correll  in  his  own  house,  217  Bluff,  Yoko 
hama,  October  4,  1874.  The  Rev.  John  Ing  and  his  wife, 
previously  engaged  in  our  mission  work  in 
First  Converts  China,  entered  upon  successful  educational 
and  Young  work  at  Hirosaki,  in  the  northern  part  of  Hon 

Men  Won  do,  toward  the  close  of  1874  June  5,  1875,  he 

baptized  fourteen  young  men,  all  students  ex- 
cept one,  while  eight  others  were  preparatory  candidates  for 
baptism.  On  January  3,  1875,  Mr.  Soper  baptized  Mr.  Sen 
Tsuda  and  wife  in  the  missionary  residence,  Tsukiji,  Tokyo, 
the  first  converts  of  our  Church  in  the  capital.  On  the  same 
day  he  for  the  first  time  administered  tlie  sacra- 
Early  Work  ment  of  the  Lord's  supper  in  Japanese,  and  on  the 
in  Tokyo  17th  of  the  same  month  opened  services  in  the 
house  of  Mr.  Furukawa,  Kudan,  Tokyo,  out  of 
which  grew  our  prosperous  Kudan  Church,  The  Church  at 
Mita,  known  as  the  Draper  Memorial  Church,  is  likewise  the 
outgrowth  of  services  begun  by  him  at  the  house  of  Mr. 
Tsuda  in  May.  The  new  mission  residence  in  Tsukiji  was 
occupied  in  October. 

Our  first  Church  in  Yokohama  stood  on  lot  224  Bluff,  and 
wms  bought  in  an  unfinished  condition  of  Mr.  Jonathan 
Goble,  a Baptist  missionary,  the  reputed  inventor  of  the 
jinrikisha,  and  previously  one  of  the  sailors  who 
Yokohama,  came  with  Commodore  Perry.  This  was  also  our 
Nagasaki,  first  Church  in  Japan,  and  in  it  two  of  our  first 
Hakodate  ministers,  Sogo  Matsumoto  and  Tenju  Kawamura, 


first  heard,  soon  after  its  opening,  the  preaching  of  the 
gospel  by  Dr.  Maclay,  and  were  led  to  Christ,  though  they 
could  not  understand  the  words  of  the  speaker.  Mat- 
sumoto  became  our  first  native  Presiding  Elder.  , The 
Church  in  Nagasaki,  built  on  tlie  historic  Deshima  (outer 
island),  where  the  government  of  two  centuries  before  had 
hemmed  in  the  Dutch  settlement  and  factory,  was  com- 
pleted by  the  end  of  the  year,  and  in  Hakodate  also  Mr. 
Harris  had  secured  a Church  location  and  was  carrying  on 
regular  services,  and  had  bapti.sms;  so  that  within  about 
two  years  of  the  organization  of  this  Mission,  the  Church 
had  been  securely  planted  in  each  of  the  stations  chosen, 
and,  spreading  out 
from  these  centers, 
its  work  has  gone  on 
steadily  increasing 
to  this  day. 

During  the  first 
period  of  two  years 
of  pioneer  planting 
of  the  Mission  the 
expected  reinforce- 
ments did  not  come, 
the  financial  depres- 
sion, beginning  in 
the  United  States  in 

1874,  having  hindered  the  enlargement  of  the 
Opening  of  work ; but  in  the  period  now  opening  the  much 

Second  Period  needed  help  began  to  appear.  New  school  en- 
terprises were  established,  publishing  inter- 
ests began  to  receive  attention,  and  touring  became  com- 
mon. The  year  1875-6  is  also  marked  by  the  organizing  of 
Church  classes,  and  the  beginning  of  love  feasts,  and  quar 
terly  meetings  and  conferences. 

A prominent  distinction  between  this  and  the  previous 
period  lies  in  the  fact  that  this  year,  for  the  first,  our 
Japanese  pastors  and  teachers  began  to  take  part  in  the 
Annual  Meeting,  and  in  all  our  history  one  of  our  strong 


LADIES  ENTERING  A JINRIKISHA 


29 


Fraternal  Place  points  has  been  in  bringing  these  Japanese 
of  Native  Workers  ministers  into  deliberations  and  equal 
ecclesiastical  rights  with  ourselves  just  as 
fast  as  they  were  able.  By  so  doing  v\  e have  avoided  many  of 
the  difficulties  which  have  rent  the  Missions  of  other 
denominations. 

In  January,  1877,  the  new  school  for  girls  and  the  new 
church  in  Tsukiji  w^ere  occupied.  Our  first  Methodist 
hymnal,  translated  or  wadtten  originally  by  Mr.  Davison, 
came  into  ex- 
Expansion  of  istence  in 
the  Work  July,  and  con- 
tained  37 
hymns  and  doxologies, 
while  our  book  now  car- 
ries 440  numbers.  The 
baptism  by  Mr.  Harris,  in 
August,  of  twelve  students 
of  the  Agricultural  Col- 
lege in  Sapporo  opened  our 
work  in  that  great  city  of 
the  north. 

The  Rev.  John  Ing,  who 
at  the  request  of  the  Mis- 
sion was  transferred  from 
tlie  China  Mission  and  be- 
came a member  of  the 
Japan  Mission  in  1876,  con- 
tinued to  have  large  suc- 
cess in  reaching  young  men  at  Hirosaki.  Under  his  direction 
five  of  his  students  came  to  the  United  States  in  1877-78,  to 
pursue  courses  of  study  at  what  is  now  DePauw  Univer-ity, 
Indiana,  the  forerunners  of  many  others  who  have  sought  in 
America  the  full  equipment  for  their  later  labors  in  tlieir 
native  land. 

The  Rev.  W.  C.  Davidson  and  wife  joined  the  Mission 
at  the  end  of  1877,  the  first  regular  reinforcements  sent 
out.  In  the  eight  years  before  the  organizing  of  the  Mis- 


- . . , 


KEV.  UIDEON  F DRAPER 


Sion  into  a Conference  there  was  a gradual  increase  of  the 
force  of  missionaries  from  Amei  ica,  both  on  the  part  of  the 
Parent  Board  and  the  Woman’s  Foreign  Blissionary  Society. 

Among  those  who  went  out  in  those  years  and 
Reinforcements  are  still  associated  with  the  Blission,  are  the 
Gradual  Revs.  Gideon  F.  Draper,  Charles  Bishop  and 

David  S.  Spencer,*  each  of  whom,  as  presiding 
elder,  had  charge  of  a District  in  the  Japan  Conference  in 
1902.  The  name  of  the  Rev. 

Milton  S.  Vail,  who  inau- 
gurated the  higher  educa- 
tional work  of  the  Blission 
in  1879,  should  be  joined 
with  the  foregoing. 

In  the  work  of  the  Wo- 
man’s Foreign  Blissionary 
Society,  Miss  Schoonmaker 
was  first 

Additions  to  the  reinforced 
Women  Workers  by  Bliss 
Olive 
Whiting  in  September, 

1876,  and  in  November, 

1879,  by  Bliss  Elizabeth 
Russell  and  Bliss  Jennie  BI. 

Gheer.  Others  came  into 
the  field  before  the  organ 
izing  of  the  Conference, 
and  of  these  there  were  miss  eliz.\beth  miss  jennie 
still  enrolled  in  the  Blission  russell  m.  gheer 

forces  in  1902  Miss  Russell 

and  Bliss  Gheer,  and  Blisses  Blinnie  S.  Hampton,  Blatilda  A. 
Spencer  and  Rebecca  J.  Watson.  The  wives  of  the  mission- 
aries, known  as  “assistant  missionaries,”  have  also  given 
devoted  service  in  every  part  of  the  Blission. 

As  Christianily  became  moi  e wiilely  known,  there  came 
invitations  from  prominent  interior  towns  asking  that  Chris- 


* The  references  to  .Mr.  Spencer  are  added  liy  llie  editor  of  the  booklets. 


tiau  work  be  opened  in  them,  and  from  that  day  our  Mission 
has  never  been  able  to  keep  up  with  the  demands  of  the 
work.  The  visit  of  Bishop  Wiley  to  our  Mission  in  February, 
1878,  and  for  two  months  following  was  pro- 
Bishop  Wiley’s  ductive  of  incalculable  good.  He  remained 
Influence  to  his  death  our  firm  friend  and  supporter. 

It  was  through  his  leadership  that  the  theo- 
logical school  was  opened  in  Yokohama,  and  his  advocacy 
of  our  work  at  home  gave  us  renewed  strength. 

The  year  1879  has  been  called  in  our  Mission  “a  year  of 
disaster  and  growth.”  The  membership  almost  doubled; 
self-support  quadrupled ; and  new  churches  were  organized 
in  important  centers.  The  Japan  Conference 
The  Year  of  Seminary  was  opened  at  221  Bluff,  Yokohama, 
Disaster  and  October  1st,  and  Dr.  John  F.  Goucher  gave  §10,000 
Growth  to  encourage  this  particular  line  of  work,  and  the 

girls’  school  in  Nagasaki  was  opened  in  Decem- 
lier.  Death  first  entei’ed  our  Mission  ranks  this  year,  in  the 
removal  of  the  little  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harris,  then 
in  the  departure  of  Miss  Higgins,  after  but  eight  months  of 
service  with  us,  and  finally  in  the  taking  of  Mrs.  Dr.  Maclay 
after  twenty-nine  years  of  missionary  toil.  Nor  were  these 
losses  the  only  cause  for  sadness.  On  December  7th  our 
Church  and  school  buildings  in  Hakodate  were  destroyed  by 
fire,  and  on  the  26th  our  entire  property  in  Tsukiji — school, 
church,  residences — was  consumed  in  a great  conflagration 
which  swei:)t  a large  section  of  the  city.  Our  missionaries 
there  lost  all,  and  must  have  suffered  intensely  but  for  the 
kindness  of  friends,  Japanese  and  foreign,  who  came  to  their 
immediate  relief. 

Naturally  the  next  year  was  largely  spent  in  recovering 
the  ground  lost  by  these  disastrous  fires.  Overwork  broke 
down  some  of  our  missionaries,  and  though  reinforcements 
came,  they  were  never  sufficient  to  meet 
Native  Preachers  the  needs  of  the  work.  On  August  28, 
Ordained  1881,  Bishop  Bowman  ordained  to  the  office 

of  deacon  S.  Kurimura,  B.  Onuki,  E.  Aibara, 
K.  Asuga,  T.  Kikuchi  and  S.  Abe,  the  first  natives  converted 


34 


in  our  own  Church  to  receive  ordination,  as  tlie  Rev.  Y. 
Honda,  mentioned  above,  was  converted  in  the  Dutch  Re 
formed  Church,  and  ordained  by  Bishop  Wiley  in  1878. 

After  the  year  1881  our  publishing  work  assumed  new 
interest,  and  the  Berean  Sunday  school  les- 
Growth  of  sons  began  to  be  regularly  translated  and 

Publishing  Work  published  in  Japanese,  the  same  now  being 
issued  by  our  publishing  house  for  near!}’- 
all  the  Protestant  Sunday  schools  in  Japan. 


GIRLS’  SEMINARY,  NAGASAKI  (Upper  building.) 


Day  schools  now  began  to  grow  in  numbers  and  impor- 
tance. Of  more  advanced  schools,  Cobleigh  Seminary  at 
Nagasaki,  now  called  Chinzei  Gakkwan,  and  the  rebuilt 
girls’  school  at  Tsukiji  were  opened  in  1881, 
Mission  Schools  and  the  new  buildings  for  Kwasui  Jo  Gakko, 
or  Girls’  Seminary,  at  Nagasaki,  were  dedi- 
cated May  29, 1882,  when  Joseph  Cook  delivered  the  address. 

Among  the  principals  of  the  Chinzei  School  may  be 
named  the  Revs.  Carrol  S.  Long,  William  C.  Kitchin,  Charles 


35 


Chinzei  Bishop,  David  S.  Spencer,  Herbert  B.  Johnson  and 
Seminary  Epperson  R.  Fulkerson.  Few  institutions  in  the 
Mission  history  of  the  Chui’ch  have  been  more  fruit- 
ful in  spiritual  results.  The  school  at  Hirosaki,  while  not 
officially  a part  of  our  educational  plan,  exerted  a powerful 
influence  in  the  training  of  Christian  young  men, 
Hirosaki  through  the  years  of  service  there,  as  teachers,  of  the 
School  Rev.  John  Ing,  Mrs.  Ing,  and  the  native  principal, 
the  Rev.Y.  Honda.  Not  less  than  sixteen  preachers  of 
the  gospel  have  gone  out  from  Hirosaki,  of  whom  some  have 
been  among  the  most  valuable  pastors  of  the  Japan  Mission. 

Through  the  generosity  of  Dr.  Goucher  of  Baltimore 
plans  had  been  made  for  the  foundingof  a Methodist  College 
in  Tokyo,  and  through  the  gift  of  Mrs.  Philander  Smith,  the 
theological  school,  known  as  the  Philander  Smith 
The  Tokyo  Biblical  Institute,  was  established.  On  January  1, 
Center  1883,  the  money  was  paid  over  w’hich  gave  us  pos 

session  of  our  splendid  property  of  about  twenty- 
five  acres  at  Aoyama,  or  “Green  Mountain,”  the  beautiful 
suburb  of  Tokyo,  than  which  location  no  Mission  of  our 
Church  has  a better.  The  Theological  School  was  removed 
from  Yokohama  and  became  a part  of  the  Aoyama  plant, 
the  Training  School  for  Bible  Women  taking  the  property 
thus  vacated.  Later  the  Tsukiji  girls’  school  was  also  re- 
moved to  Aoyama,  where  we  now  have  a College,  a Middle 
School,  a Theological  School,  a Seminary  for  girls,  and  an 
Industrial  School  for  women.  Among  the  most  helpful  in- 
structors in  this  educational  center  have 
Principal  Teach-  been  the  Revs.  Charles  Bishop,  Gideon  F. 
ers  at  Tokyo  Draper,  David  S.  Spencer,  John  O.  Spencer, 
Herbert  B.  Johnson,  Benjamin  Chappell,  and 
Miss  Jennie  S.  Vail,  beside  a long  list  of  native  teachers, 
and  the  service  of  the  able  President,  Dr.  Y.  Honda,  begin 
ning  in  1897.  The  veteran  missionary,  Dr.  Julius  Soper,  as 
professor,  and  in  recent  years,  dean  of  the  Biblical  Insti- 
tute. has  been  a constant  pillar  of  strength. 

Marked  success  has  attended  the  educational  and  train, 
ing  work  of  the  Woman’s  Foreign  Missionary  Society  in 


ANQLO-JAPANKSB  COLLEGE,  AOYAMA,  TOKYO 
. Miss  Jennie  S.  Vail.  2.  Dr.  Jfilius  Soper.  3.  Prof.  Saito.  4.  Prof.  T.  Yamada.  5.  Rev.  Benjamin  Chappell. 
6.  Rev.  Alton  M.  Brooks.  7.  Mrs.  Brooks.  8.  President  Y.  Honda.  9.  Dr.  M.  Ishizaka. 

10.  Prof.  S.  Wada.  11.  Dr.  E.  Asada. 


Schools  in  the  Japan.  In  addition  to  the  institutions  al- 
Woman’s  Work  ready  mentioned,  the  Caroline  Wright  Me- 
morial School  at  Hakodate,  in  the  north,  anti 
those  at  Nagoya  in  the  center,  and  Fukuoka  in  the  southern 
field,  have  a record  of  eminent  efficiency. 

Revivals  appeared  in  all  parts  of  the  field  in  1883,  and 
were  confined  to  no  denomination.  The  number  of  converts 
in  Japan,  in  this  one  year  alone,  about  equaled  the  entire 
number  converted  during  the  first  twenty  j'ears  of 
First  Great  mission  work.  Wonderful  demonsti'ations  of 
Revival  power  were  manifest.  There  appears  no  human 

connection  between  the  revivals  in  central  and 
those  of  soutliern  Japan.  The  greatest  results  were  in  our 
schools.  More  than  half  our  students  were  converted, 
twenty-seven  in  one  school  in  one  night.  The  spiritual 
uplift  given  to  our  work  by  this  gracious  revival  has  never 
lost  its  effect. 

This  year  also  we  graduated  our  first  theological  class, 
T.  Doi,  H.  Hirana,  T.  Yamada  and  H.  Yamaka,  a 
Native  noble  quartet;  and  a second  class  of  native  preachers 
Ministry  received  ordination,  a wonderful  showing  for  the 
first  ten  years  of  mission  work  in  a field  new  to 
Christian  truth. 

Perhaps  in  no  other  way  did  the  great  revival  of  1883-4 
show  its  genuineness  more  clearly  than  in  the  strength 
which  it  at  once  gave  to  the  movement  toward 
Self-support  self-support,  which  had  already  started  among 
the  churches  of  our  Mission,  and  has  steadily 
grown  to  the  present  time. 

These  movements  formed  the  fitting  preparation  for  the 
organization  of  the  Japan  Mission  into  an  Annual  Conference 
in  August,  1884.  Including  probationary 
Japan  Conference  members,  the  Conference  had  13  foreign  mis- 
Organized  sionary  members,  and  19  native  preachers. 

The  Woman’s  Foreign  Missionary  Society 
had  12  representatives  on  the  field.  There  were  907  mem- 
bers of  the  Church,  241  probationers,  and  1,203  Sunday 
school  scholars. 


38 


A third  period  covers  the  history  of  the  Mission  from 
its  organization  into  an  Annual  Conference  in  1884  to  the 
present  time.  The  work  of  the  first  period  fixed  the  Mis- 
sion’s geographical  boundaries;  that  of  the  second 
The  Third  the  lines  of  our  work.  The  third  period  has  been 
Period  one  of  stern  contest,  solid  if  not  rapid  progress, 

and,  on  the  whole,  most  remarkable  results.  It 
is  a source  of  satisfaction  that  our  Church  has  been  able  to 
contribute  largely  toward  the  salvation  of  the  people,  and 
the  bringing  about  of  those  changes  which  are  putting 
Japan  more  and  more  in  line  with  Chidstian  thought  and 
civilized  progress. 


CHINZF.I  SEMINARY,  NAGASAKI 
Faculty  and  Students,  1898.  F.  Principal  Fulkerson. 

Dr.  R.  S.  Maclay  came  to  the  United  States  in  1888  as  a 
delegate  to  the  General  Conference,  and  after  careful  con- 
sideration decided  to  accept  the  position  which  was  tendered 
him  of  dean  of  the  Maclay  College  of  Theology 
Dr.  Maclay’s  at  San  Fernandino,  California.  With  deep 
Retirement  regret  he  sent  by  letter  to  the  Japan  Conference 


the  announcement  of  the  conclusion  of  his  long  term  of  ser- 
vice in  that  field.  The  Conference,  feeling  equal  sorrow  at 
parting  with  one  who  had  been  so  true  a leader,  in  its 
resolutions  reviewed  the  fifteen  years,  from 
Results  at  Close  the  beginning  of  the  Mission  in  1873  to  the 
of  His  Superin-  fifth  session  of  the  Japan  Conference,  August, 
tendency  1888,  covering  the  period  of  Dr.  Maclay’s  work. 

The  number  of  Church  members  was  2,854, 
with  849  probationers.  There  were  20  missionaries,  19  as- 
sistant missionaries,  and  38  native  preachers.  The  Woman’s 
Foreign  Missionary  Society  had  12  foreign  missionaries 
and  22  native  workers.  The  foreign  teachers  numbered  16 
and  the  native  teachers  44.  There  were  77  Sunday  schools 
with  4,198  scholars,  and  17  high  schools  and  other  day 
schools  with  1,798  pupils. 

The  Mission  gained  884  full  members  in  1887-8,  but 
showed  a decrease  of  108  full  members  in  1888-9,  which 
reveals  the  line  of  transition  to  the  years  of  relative  oppo- 
sition to  Mission  work  from  1889  to  1900.  Yet 
The  Check,  our  workers  met  this  serious  crisis  arising 
and  Slow  but  from  the  new  conditions  with  steadfast  faith 
Steady  Gains  and  heroic  endeavor,  and  every  year  since 
1889  has,  on  the  whole,  indicated  an  advance, 
although  the  increase  was  much  slower  during  the  second 
fifteen  years  than  during  the  first  fifteen  in  the  history  of 
the  Mission. 

The  popular  schools  and  organizations  known  as  “Gospel 
Societies  ” form  a special  and  peculiar  feature  of  our  work 
in  Japan  during  this  period,  They  supply  in  large  degree 
the  helpful  agencies  for  young  men  that  are  offered 
“ Gospel  by  the  Young  Men’s  Christian  Association,  such  as 
Societies  ’’  night  classes,  lectures,  reading  room  and  library, 
brief  chapel  exercises,  and  social  and  evangelistic 
meetings.  The  first  society  was  started  in  Tokyo  in  1885, 
and  has  largely  reached  as  students  the  sons  and  appren- 
tices of  merchants,  bank  and  government  clerks,  and  other 
young  men  in  business  circles.  A number  of  these  are  con- 
verted year  by  year,  while  all  come  under  strong  religious 


40 


influences.  Other  Gospel  Societies  have  done  a similar 
work  for  young  men  in  Yokohama  and  Hirosaki. 

In  1898,  at  the  twenty-fifth  anniversary  of  our  work  in 
Japan,  the  southern  portion  of  the  Empire,  including  the 
island  of  Kyushu,  the  Loo  Choo  (Ryu  Kyu)  group  and  For- 
mosa, was  constituted  the  territory  of  the  South 
South  Japan  Japan  Conference,  which  held  its  first  session  at 
Conference  Nagasaki,  March,  1899.  There  were  4 foreign 
missionaries  and  17  native  preachers,  8 foreign 
and  11  native  workers  in  the  Woman’s  work,  and  703  Church 
members  and  295  probationers.  Bishop  Earl  Cranston  pre- 
sided, and  the  new  Conference  entered  on  its  course  with 
remarkably  complete  organization  of  its  boards.  In  no  part 
of  the  Empire 
have  more  rapid 
material  devel- 
opments taken 
place  than  in 
northern  Kyu- 
shu during  re- 
cent years. 

Railways,  new 
coal  mines,  iron 
and  steel  plants, 
great  govern- 
nient  piers,  and 
j^ards  turning 
out  large  ocean- 
going steam- 
ships have  made 
this  section  of 
the  South  Japan 
Conference  a 
busy  hive  of  in- 
dustry.  Our 
Churches  and 
workers  have 
nobly  measured 


WOMAN  WORSHIPING  TREE, 
LOO  CHOO  ISLANDS 


II 


up  to  these  conditions  and  opportunities.  With  no  less 
alertness  they  have  kept  in  view  the  extension  of  their 
operations  through  the  length  of  the  Loo  Choo  Islands 
and  through  Formosa,  which  was  added  to  Japan’s  pos- 
sessions at  the  close  of  her  war  with  China.  In  1903  the 
Rev.  K.  Murai  began  his  fourth  year  as  missionary  pastor  in 
the  Loo  Choo  Islands,  where  he  has  labored  with  great  zeal, 
and  three  Bible  women  were  at  work  in  that  needy  field. 

The  publishing  work  of  the  Mission  has  continued  to 
extend  its  range  during  the  period  now  under  review.  In 
1891  the  “Gokyo”  or 
“ Christian  Advocate”  was  ‘ 
started,  in  the  publication 
of  which 
Growth  of  the  the  Mis- 
Publishing  Work  sionofthe 
Methodist 
Church  of  Canada,  the 
Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  South,  and  the 
Methodist  Protestant 
Church  (since  withdrawn), 
united  with  our  Mission. 

With  the  opening  of  the 
new  century  the  output  of 
our  Japan  Mission  press 
has  shown  a marked  in- 
crease under  the  efficient 
direction  of  Mr.  James  L. 

Cowen,  publishing  agent.  Better  facilities  are  greatly 
needed  in  this  work,  and  in  1903  the  Rev.  T.  Ukai,  then  in 
his  eighth  year  as  the  able  pastor  of  what  has  become  the 
Central  Church  of  Tokyo,  came  to  the  United  States  to 
secure  funds  which  would  make  possible  the  erection  of  a 
building  for  the  Central  Church  and  Publishing  House. 

In  the  year  1886  Dr.  Harris  was  transferred  to  the  United 
States  to  take  charge  of  the  Japanese  work  on  the  Pacific 
coast,  where  his  leadership  has  been  most  successful.  In 

41 


43 


ANGLO-JAPANESE  TRAINING  SCHOOL,  SAN  FRANCISCO,  CALIFORNIA 
Teachers  and  Graduating  Class,  J903.  Dr.  M.  C.  Harris  in  center.  Prof.  Milton  S.  Vail  to  liis  left,  Miss  Gray  to  his  right. 


1898  he  revisited  Japan  and  was  received  with  great  honor 
not  only  by  our  Mission  forces  everywhere,  but  by  many 
public  men,  in  recognition  of  his  distinguished  services  in 
uplifting  J apan.  At  the  close  of  our  survey  (1903) , 
Position  of  Dr.  Soper  remains  the  Nestor  of  the  Japan  Con- 
Pioneers  ference,  and  Dr.  Davison  of  the  South  JajDan  Con - 

and  Others  ference.  In  the  former  body  should  be  mentioned, 

in  addition  to  those  whose  names  have  already 
appeared,  as  able  missionaries  with  an  extended  term  of 
service,  the  Rev.  John  W.  Wailman.  Presiding  Elder  of  Ha- 
kodate District;  the  Rev. 

Charles  W.  Huett,  Presiding 
Elder  of  Sapporo  District,  and 
the  Rev.  Joseph  G.  Cleveland, 
late  Presiding  Elder  of  Sen- 
dai District,  who  was  called 
from  labor  to  reward  August 
9,  1903;  and  in  the  latter 
body,  the  Rev.  Henry  B. 

Schwartz,  Presiding  Elder  of 
the  Southern  District. 

The  Presidency  of  Bishop 
David  H.  Moore  at  the  ses- 
sions of  both  the  Japan  Con- 
ferences for  the 
Work  of  three  years, 

Bishop  Moore  1901-3,  was 
marked  by  sym- 
pathetic attention  to  the 
needs  of  the  entire  work,  sirch  as  has  made  liis  continuous 
service  in  China,  Korea  and  Japan  of  great  value  to  our 
missionary  operations  in  all  Eastern  Asia.  Chapters  of  tiie 
Epworth  League  began  to  be  organized  in  Japan  in  1891-2, 
and  while  a large  number  have  at  no  time  existed,  the  organ- 
ization has  fully  commended  itself  as  a means  of  strength 
and  usefulness  among  the  young  people  of  our 
The  Epworth  churches,  and  has  received  the  constant  ap- 
League  proval  of  the  missionaries  and  native  pastors. 


BISHOP  DAVID  H.  MOORK 


44 


The  Japan  Mission  has,  throughout  its  history,  been  active 
in  promoting  reforms,  and  its  influence  has  been  powerful 
in  the  organized  fight  against  intemperance  and  impurity 
which  is  still  going  forward.  Our  doctrines,  too,  have  their 
relation  to  our  history.  Even  our  co-workers  in  other 
churches  have  come  to  acknowledge  our  Methodist  doctrines 
as  the  anchor  to  Jai^anese  Protestant  Christianity.  In  the 
great  Twentieth  Century  Movement  now  in  progress  in 
Japan  our  men  are  easily  leaders,  and  are  everywhere  in 
demand.  Our  forces  in  this  “Land  of  the  Rising  Sun” 
clearly  di.scern  that  the  next  quarter  of  a century  will  have 
an  immeasurable  imi^ortance,  as  they  stand 
Reforms  and  face  to  face  with  the  vast  indifference  to 
Future  Outlook  Christianity  of  the  new  Nationalism,  the  keen 
opposition  of  an  aroused  Buddhism,  and  the 
insidious  attractions  of  Materialism.  But  they  are  encour- 
aged also  by  the  l epeated  waves  of  regenerating  power  that 
have  been  witnessed  in  the  great  revivals  of  1884,  1888  and 
1901,  and  in  the  steady  progress  of  all  the  forces  of  a saving- 
gospel.  What  they  need  and  grandly  deserve  are  reinforce- 
ments of  missionaries  and  money,  for  in  saving  Japan  tliey 
are  preparing  tlie  coming  teacher  and  guide  of  all  Eastern 
Asia.  We  sliould  at  once  have  ten  more  missionaries  and 
money  to  support  them.  The  demand  for  workers  is  very 
great.  The  nation  is  ripe  for  the  gospel.  Now  is  the  time 
to  strike.  God  is  moving  the  whole  people,  and  all  classes. 
May  our  great  home  Church  comprehend  its  privileges  at 
this  time  and  help  us  to  save  this  land. 

The  combined  statistics  of  the  two  Conferences  give  the 
folhjwung  results  for  1902 : 20  foreign  missionaries. 
Concluding  16  assistant  missionaries,  91  native  preachers,  31 
Summary  missionai'ies  of  the  Woman's  Board  and  57  native 
workers,  4,367  Church  members,  2,194  probation- 
ers, 145  Sunday  schools,  and  6,844  Sunday  school  scholars. 


OUTSTANDING  FACTS 

In  addition  to  their  direct  soul-saving  results,  the  follow- 
ing may  be  noted  as  some  of  the  practical  outworkings  of 
present-day  missions  in  Japan. 

Triumph  or  the  Anti  Brothel  Movement 
Rev.  U.  ft.  Murphy,  reading  his  daily  paper  for  practice 
in  colloquial  Japianese,  came  across  several  accounts  of  girls 
fleeing  from  houses  of  shame  only  to  be  returned  by  the 
police.  “ Wliy  need  this  be  i'  " was  the  thought 
Evil  Fetters  w hich  finally  wrought  itself  info  heroic  action. 
Broken  Only  a man  filled  with  divine  love  and  courage 

could  have  fought  to  tlie  bitter  end  the  good 
light  which  has  ended  in  such  a victory — the  recogni- 
tion on  the  part  of  the  Government  that  tlie  scarlet  woman 
may,  at  w ill,  go  free — for  up  to  this  time  she  was  really  in  a 
hopeless  form  of  barbarous  slavery.  Though  he  was  contin- 
ually hounded  by  an  angry  mob  and  confronted  by  difficulties 


METHODIST  PUBLISHING  HOUSE,  TOKYO 


4fi 


innumerable,  this  man,  inspired  by  a Christlike  purpose, 
carried  his  test  case  to  the  higher  courts.  The  newspapers 
of  the  land  and  a pamphlet  from  the  powerful  pen  of  Mr. 
Tukuzawa  appealed  to  the  country  to  wipe  off  this  gi..: antic 
shame.  After  the  Department  of  Justice  had  sustained  the 
local  courts  the  Home  Department  declared  that  the  g rls 
could  not  be  detained  for  debt  and  a great  victory  v\  as  won. 

But  how  should  these  poor  souls  know  of  the  possibility 
of  escape  ? The  Salvation  Army  prepared  a home,  then 
with  tracts,  trumpet  and  song  marched  into  the  very  center 
of  the  sinful  quarter.  The  outcome  was  more 
Freedom  mobs  and  bloodshed,  but  the  deed  was  done. 

Proclaimed  The  good  news  was  passed  and  the  more  cour- 

ageous ones  fled.  One  thousand  tive  hundred  in 
Tokyo  alone  had  found  liberty  by  the  end  of  1900  Of  the 
fifty-five  thousand  in  all  Japan  five  thousand  have  already 
abandoned  this  life.  In  the  homes  established  those  who 
have  escaped  are  received  and  taught  that  they  may  become 
whiter  than  snow  through  the  blood  of  Him  who  said  to  a 
like  outcast,  “ Go,  and  sin  no  more.” 

The  Temperance  Reform 

The  National  Temperance  League  with  thirty  auxiliaries 
gives  promise  of  being  one  of  the  great  moral  forces  of  this 
empire.  Thousands  of  young  men  have  signed  the  pledge 
and  a right  sentiment  is  being  created.  Through 
Temperance  the  efforts  of  Mr.  Nemoto,  a most  devoted  Chris- 

Progress  tian  and  a member  of  the  Lower  House,  Parlia- 

ment has  passed  a bill  making  tobacco  smoking 
on  the  part  of  minors  a legal  offense. 

Christian  Literature  and  the  Circulation 
OF  THE  Scriptures 

Just  thirty  years  ago  the  first  tracts  and  portions  of 
Scripture  were  printed  from  wooden  blocks  with  the  greatest 
secrecy.  A man  and  his  wife  were  thrown  into  prison  for 
having  a manuscript  copy  of  Mark  in  their 
Good  possession,  he  to  find  release  in  death  ! Only 

Literature  tw'enty  years  ago  the  opening  of  a shop  for  the 


47 


sale  of  the  Scriptures  called  forth  violent  opposition  in 
Nagasaki.  Yet  such  is  the  change  in  public  sentiment 
that  eiglit  years  ago,  at  the  time  of  the  Japan-China 
war,  official  permission  was  granted  for  the  circulation  of 
the  Scriptures  in  the  army  and  navy.  In  1900  the  total 
circulation  of  the  Bible  and  portions  of  the  Bible  is  reported 
at  137,432  copies.  The  Rev.  S.  Snyder  alone  sold  over 
34,603  volumes.  There  is  an  increasing  demand  for  English 


MISSION  SCHOOL  FOR  THE  BLIND,  HAKODATE 

Testaments.  The  Tract  Society  alone  circulated  512,266 
tracts  in  the  year  1899.  The  Methodist  Publishing  House 
reports  having  issued  five  million  tracts  in  one  year.  There 
are  eighty-five  Christian  journals  in  Japan. 

Christian  Charities 

Rev.  Mr.  Pettee  says  : “ We  would  call  attention  to  the 

fact  not  that  Christianity  has  established  a score  of  orphan- 
ages, three  blind  and  three  leper  asj^lums,  three  rescue 


48 


Effect  on  homes,  three  prison-gate  missions,  a score  of  hos 
the  Nation  pitals,  six  charity  kindergartens,  three  homes  for 
the  aged,  one  social  settlement  and  at  least  two 
hundred  schools  or  classes  for  the  poor,  but  that  within  a 
generation  it  has  set  the  pace  for  all  forms  of  practical 
benevolence  and  stirred  a whole  nation  to  take  an  interest 
in  all  that  tends  to  elevate  and  purify  society.” 

And  still  the  needs  are  great.  Dr.  Taylor  says  : “Japan 
spends  her  treasure  by  the  million  on  her  army  and  navy 
that  she  may  be  classed  as  a military  power  among  the 
nations  of  the  earth,  but  compared  with  the 
A Contrast  Christian  nations  of  the  world  for  the  well-being 
of  her  sick,  the  insane,  the  blind,  the  deaf  and 
dumb  and  the  leper,  she  doles  out  by  the  penny.” 

Prisoners’  Rescue  Home 

Mr.  Hara,  a gentleman  of  position  and  means,  while  serv- 
ing a term  in  prison  on  account  of  utterances  made  in  a 
political  speech  to  which  the  Government  took  exception,  was 
so  imf)ressed  with  the  needs  of  the  prisoners  that 
The  since  his  release  he  has  devoted  all  his  time  and 

Prisoners’  means  to  rescue  work  among  ex-convicts.  When, 

Friend  at  the  time  of  the  Empress  Dowager’s  death,  a 

hundred  prisoners  received  a reprieve,  Mr.  Hara 
met  them  at  the  station  with  jinrikishas,  took  them  to  his 
home  and  cared  for  them  until  they  were  able  to  care  for 
themselves.  No  wonder  the  mothers  of  these  befriended 
ones  place  Mr.  Hara’s  photograph  on  their  god-shelf  and 
worship  him  as  their  sons’  only  savior  ! 

Bright  Outlook  for  Christian  Education 

The  regulation  of  the  Department  of  Education  two  years 
ago  forbidding  religious  instruction  in  schools  receiving 
Government  recognition  threatened  to  be  a deathblow  to 
our  mission  schools.  We  could  hardly  expect 
The  Danger  students  to  come  to  us  if  upon  graduation  most 
of  the  avenues  leading  to  a livelihood  and  use- 
fulness were  to  be  closed  to  them.  We  relinquished  our 
privileges,  lost  a great  number  of  students,  but  kept  Christ. 


49 


FACULTY,  girls’  SCHOOL,  HIROSAKI 

The  expression  of  public  opinion  was  so  strong  that 
within  two  years  of  the  issuing  of  this  regulation  the  De- 
partment of  Education  removed  the  destructive  stricture 
and  Christian  schools  are  enjoying  greater  privi- 
Decision  leges  than  ever  before.  With  fuller  religious 
Reversed  privileges  we  have  the  former  privilege  of  the 
admission  of  our  academic  graduates  to  the  Gov- 
ernment higher  institutions  under  the  same  conditions  as 
the  graduates  from  Government  academies.  Our  college 
graduates  are  granted  without  examination  license  to  teach 
English  in  Government  schools  and  our  students  are  ex- 
empted from  military  conscription. 

According  to  Dr.  Wainwright  there  are  nineteen  schools 
and  colleges  for  young  men  under  the  various  Protestant  de- 
nominations, with  a total  attendance  of  2,891,  or  an  average 
of  150  each.  Our  Aoyama  Academy  and  College  had  an 
enrollment  of  191.  The  girls’  schools,  whose 
Large  School  growth  has  not  been  interrupted  by  Govern- 
Attendance  ment  regulations,  are  enjoying  the  increasing 


50 


popularity  that  comes  from  growing  public  confidence. 
Dormitories  and  class  rooms  are  full  and  applicants  have  to 
be  turned  away. 

From  all  sides  we  hear  that  the  crying  need  of  Japan,  in 
every  department,  is  not  of  men  of  greater  mental  ability, 
but  men  of  stronger  moral  conviction.  These  must  be 
reared  largely  in  Christian  institutions.  The  great  need  of 
all  these  schools  is  endowment.  Let  those  blessed 
Need  of  with  the  fruits  of  their  own  moral  integrity,  a 
Endowment  heritage  of  the  Christian  atmosphere  in  which 
they  were  born,  endow  these  needy  institutions, 
that  they  may  offer  to  the  youth  of  Japan  educational  ad- 
vantages equal  to  those  of  the  Government  institutions,  and 
train  them  to  act  nobly  their  part  in  the  upbuilding  of  the 
nation. 

The  most  impressive  and  encouraging  fact  of  the  mission 
work  in  Japan  to-day  is  the  outpouring  of  the  Spirit  in  con- 
nection with  the  Twentieth  Century  Forward  Movement,  as 
described  below.  The  unparalleled  power  in 
The  Supreme  pulpit  and  pew,  the  eagerness  of  all  classes  to 
Fact  learn  of  the  Crucified  One,  indicate  the  Eevealer 

and  Executive  of  the  Lord  of  Hosts.  This  is 
the  crowning  I'esult  of  a united  effort  on  the  part  of  His 
workers. 


TWENTIETH  CENTURY  UNION  EVANGELISTIC 
MOVEMENT 

The  Japan  Evangelical  Alliance  devoted  the  opening  year 
of  the  Twentieth  Century  to  special  effort  for  the  spread  of 
the  Gospel  in  the  empire.  The  name  adopted  for  this  new 
movement  was  Taikyo  Dendo,  “ Great  Uplifting  Evan- 
General  gelization;”  the  watchword  was,  “Our  Land  for 
Plan  Christ,”  and  the  motto,  “ Not  by  might,  nor  by  power, 
but  by  my  spirit,  saith  the  Lord.”  In  October  of  1900 
the  committee  conferred  with  the  General  Conference  of 
Foreign  Missionaries,  then  in  session  in  the  city  of  Tokyo, 


51 


seeking  its  co-operation.  The  Conference  heartily  endorsed 
the  movement,  and  appointed  an  advisory  committee. 

Early  in  1901  special  union  meetings  were  held  in  differ- 
ent parts  of  the  empire,  with  more  or  less  favorable  results. 
Special  efforts  were  put  forth  also  by  individual  missions. 

Meetings  were  held  in  all  the  churches  of  the  Tokyo 
Preliminary  District  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  under 
Meetings  the  leadership  of  the  Rev.  D.  S.  Spencer,  Presiding 
Elder,  during  the  first  three  months  of  the  year, 
about  100  persons  being  converted.  These  various  efforts 
were  but  the  beginning,  the  drops  before  the  coming  showers. 

Commencing  with  the  12th  of  May  the  movement  took  a 
more  definite  shape, 
meetings,  nearly  all 
the  Protestant 
churches  uniting, 
were  held  in 
The  Main  turn  in  five 
Series  sections  o f 
Tokyo,  the 
wards  of  the  city  be 
ing  divided  into  five 
groups.  During 
these  seven  weeks 
there  was  a remark- 
able outpouiing  of 
the  Divine  Spirit.  Nothing  like  it  has  been  seen  since 
1888.  Churches  were  aroused  to  renewed  activity,  the 
faith  of  the  Christians  was  greatly  quickened,  and  hun- 
dreds were  led  to  become  inquirers  and  seekers  after  the 
truth — not  a tew  making  a confession  of  faith  and  joining 
some  Christian  church. 

During  this  wonderful  work  of  grace,  in  Tokyo  alone 
over  five  thousand  became  inquirers  and  converts.  Night 
after  night  the  churches  were  crowded,  some  literally 
packed,  with  earnest  and  intelligent  listeners.  All 
Notable  the  missionaries,  pastors,  helpers  and  church  mem- 
Features  bers  were  led  to  feel  that  nothing  of  a spiritual  or 


For  seven  weeks  a series  of  union 


LOTUS  FOiND,  UYENO  PARK,  TOKYO 


52 


moral  nature  is  impossible.  God  became  a reality  as  never 
before.  The  influence  of  these  Tokyo  meetings  was  felt 
in  the  empire,  far  and  wide.  Meetings  with  excellent  re- 
sults have  been  held  in  all  the  large  centers,  and  have 
reached  out  to  most  isolated  districts. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  churches  of  Tokyo  had  a large 
share  of  the  fruitage  of  this  blessed  work,  there  being 
from  twenty  to  five  hundred  inquirers  and  converts  in  our 
seven  churches.  The  pastors  and  Bible  women 
Some  of  the  earnestly  followed  up  and  instructed  these  new 
Fruits  converts.  Many  of  them  were  young  men,  stu- 

dents in  government  and  private  schools.  In 
some  sections  of  the  city  many  of  the  settled  and  resident 
classes  were  reached  and  influenced.  In  one  Congregational 
church  over  sixty  persons  from  families  in  the  vicinity  were 
baptized  and  received  into  church  fellowship. 

The  Japanese  leaders  in  this  movement  were  the  Rev. 
Messrs.  Ukai  (Methodist Episcopal),  Tamara  (Presbyterian), 
Nakano  (Evangelical  Association),  Kozaki  (Congregational), 
Honda  (Methodist  Episcopal),  and  Fukuda  (Presby- 
The  terian).  A number  of  laymen  took  an  active  part. 

Leaders  and  added  no  little  to  the  success  of  the  movement,  of 
whom  were  the  Hon.  Taro  Ando,  formerly  Consul- 
General  to  Hawaii;  the  Hon.  Sho  Nemoto,  member  of  the 
Lower  House  of  the  Imperial  Diet,  and  the  Hon.  Mr. 
Kataoka,  President  of  the  Lower  House.  The  two  former 
are  Methodists  and  the  latter  a Presbyterian.  The  mission- 
aries as  a body  heartily  co  operated  with  the  movement, 
working  with  the  Japanese  brethren  without  thought  of 
national  distinctions. 

The  spirit  of  unity  and  fraternity  was  beautifully  and 
strikingly  manifested.  Denominational  lines  and  sectarian 
feeling  were  entirely  banished,  this  spirit  of  cordial  unity 
being  one  of  the  secrets  of  the  mighty  power  manifest.  “ The 
union  of  the  Christians  in  this  national  movement,”  as  one 
well  says,  “has  deeply  impressed  the  public  mind 
The  Power  with  the  strength,  unity  and  courage  of  the 
of  Unity  Christian  Church,  and  removed  many  doubts.” 


53 


The  methods  of  the  work  are  full  of  interest.  A union 
prayer  service  was  held  daily,  in  the  afternoon,  at  which 
reports  were  given  of  the  work  the  night  previous.  These 
prayer  services  were  centers  of  power  and  seasons  of 
Methods  great  blessing.  At  one  of  these  services,  held  in  the 
Used  Ginza  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  there  were  by 
actual  count  over  700  present.  From  these  prayer 
services  went  forth  bands  of  workers — singers,  preachers  and 
tract  distributors— marching  through  the  streets  with  ban- 
ners flying.  In  this  work  the  rank  and  file  of  Christians 


UNION  HYMN  BOOK  COMMITTEE 
Representatives  of  five  denominations.  Book  to  be  used  by  all  Protestants. 

joined — men,  women  and  children — and  especially  students, 
both  young  men  and  women.  On  street  corners  and  open 
spaces  they  sung  Christian  songs  and  proclaimed  the  truths 
of  the  Gospel,  and  invited  all  to  come  to  the  evening  preach- 
ing services,  distributing  folders  telling  where  these  services 
would  be  held.  At  night  in  each  church  a sermon  was 
preached,  followed  by  an  earnest  exhortation.  Then  came 


54 


a season  of  prayer.  An  after  meeting  was  also  held,  to 
which  all  interested  in  the  Christian  religion  and  desirous 
of  learning  about  it,  were  cordially  invited.  At  these  after 
meetings  inquirers  and  seekers  were  divided  into  small  com- 
panies and  a leader  placed  over  each  to  counsel  and  insti'uct. 

The  Japanese  pastors  di.'splayed  commendable  skill  and  a 
high  degree  of  generalship  in  the  management  and  conduct 
of  meetings.  Much  unknown  talent  as  leaders 
Japanese  was  brought  to  light  and  developed.  This  augurs 
Generalship  well  for  the  future  of  the  Church  in  Japan— a 
future  full  of  hope;  for  Christianity  is  fast  be- 
coming indigenous. 

The  following  is  a summary  of  the  seven  weeks’  work  in 
the  city  of  Tokyo  from  May  12  to  June  30,  1901.  The  city 
was  divided  into  five  districts  or  groups  of  churches,  and 
the  number  of  churches  co  operating  was  51.  Of 
Summary  Japanese  pastors  and  evangelists  enlisted  in  the 
movement  there  were  62,  and  of  foreign  mission- 
aries, 12.  Twenty-seven  evangelistic  bands  were  formed, 
with  an  enrollment  of  360  workers.  A total  of  913,510 
pages  of  printed  matter  was  distributed  in  the  way  of  hand- 
bills, large  posters,  tracts,  Testaments,  portions  of  Scripture, 
and  song  leaflets.  The  attendance  at  prayer  meetings  was 
11,626;  at  preaching  services,  84,247;  at  wayside  services, 
10,000  (estimated) ; or  a total  of  105,873.  The  inquirers  and 
converts  were  5,207. 


JAPAN’S  APPEAL  TO  THE  CHRISTIAN 
CHURCH 

A statement  of  Japan’s  appeal  to  the  hosts  of  the  Chris- 
tian Church  must  include  the  following  reasons,  among 
others,  commanding  attention  to  her  claims  as  a mission 
field: 

Because  of  the  progress  she  has  made.  Fifty  years  ago 
Japan  was  a hermit  nation  sealed  to  the  world,  worn  by  the 
tread  of  centuries  into  grooves  of  life  and  thought  deep  as 


55 


Her  mountain  canyons;  her  language,  literature,  phil- 

Progress  osophy  and  religion  came  from  hoary  China;  mil- 
lions of  her  people  were  serfs  of  the  soil.  To-day  she 
stands  among  the  powers  of  the  world,  meeting  them  in 
commerce  and  diplomacy,  rivaling  them  in  education, 
sharing  their  victories  and  commanding  their  respect. 

Because  of  dangers  resulting  from  her  progress,  her 
very  transformation  places  her  in  the  midst  of  giave^t  un- 
certainties. In  one  short  generation  she  has  taken  her  place 
among  powers  which  have  for  centuries  been  makers 
Its  of  the  world's  history  in  that  which  is  best  in  thought 

Dangers  and  achievement. 

Recognized  as  their 
peer  in  equipment,  power 
and  ambition,  she  is  a child 
in  years.  Unbalanced  by 
experience,  unbuttressed 
by  precedent,  unsettled  in 
principle,  if  uncontrolled 
by  reason  and  discretion 
her  power  may  prove  her 
doom. 

Conscious  of  the  growth 
she  has  made,  she  is  pos 
sessed  of  a consuming  de- 
sire to  scale  further  the 
heights  of  influence  and 
power,  and  has  stood  ready 
to  adopt  any  expediency 

apparently  effective  to  this  end.  In  turn  the 
Her  Quest  leaders  of  Japan  conceived  the  strength  of 

for  the  Secret  western  nations  to  lie  in  their  religions,  their 
of  Strength  educational  institutions,  in  their  political  insti- 
tutions and  their  militarism,  and  they  intro- 
duced them  all.  At  last  the  opinion  maintained  that  the 
source  of  power  lay  really  in  commercial  activity,  industrial 
progress  and  accumulation  of  wealth.  Straightway  the 
nation  plunged  with  feverish  haste  into  commercialism, 


56 


which  is  to-day  the  prevailing  and  absorbing  spirit.  His- 
tory is  strewn  with  the  wrecks  of  civilizations  attempted 
upon  such  a basis. 

Because  of  the  growth  of  the  Kingdom  of  God  and  extent 
of  Christian  influence.  Possibly  in  no  other  country  has  the 
Church  grown  more  rapidly  or  acquired  a greater  influence 
in  one  generation,  and  that  when  planted  beside 
Marvelous  , religions  which  for  centuries  had  woven  themselves 
Christian  into  the  very  fabric  of  national  and  individual 
Growth  life.  Thirty-five  years  ago  the  fir.'-t  two  Christians 
were  baptized,  and  less  than  thirty  years  ago  the 
first  Protestant  church  was  organized.  To-day  the  baptized 
Protestant  Christians  number  42,000,  and  including  the 
Eoman  Catholic  and  Greek  churches  a total  of  123,000  adher- 
ents. The  lives  of  many  times  that  number  are  profoundly 
impressed  and  influenced  with  the  Gospel  of  Christ.  Chris- 
tianity has  obtained  an  influence  out  of  all  proportion  to 
the  number  of  its  professed  adherents.  By  recent  legisla- 
tion this  new  religion  enjoys  equal  rights  and  protection  be- 
fore the  law  with  those  religions  which  for  generations 
enjoyed  its  exclusive  patronage.  “The  record  of  missions 
in  Japan  is  the  marvel  of  modern  Church  history.” 

Because  of  the  vast  unoccupied  regions  in  the  evangeli- 
zation of  the  country.  Encouraging  as  is  the  growth  of  the 
Church,  broad  as  is  the  influence  of  Christian  principles,  the 
war  of  conquest  has  only  begun.  The  oldest 
Masses  Yet  missionaries  agree  that  three-fourths,  or 
Unreached  30,000,000,  of  the  people  have  not  yet  heard  of 
Christ.  Ninety-five  cities  of  10,000  population 
and  over,  and  large  country  sections,  have  no  resident  mis- 
sionary and  many  no  native  worker. 

The  most  conservative  students  of  the  situation  declare 
that  Buddhism  is  doomed  in  Japan,  but  it  is  evident  that  it 
will  die  hard.  Robert  Speer,  in  his  report  on  his  visit  to 
Japan  in  1899,  said,  “In  no  other  country  did 
Buddhist  Buddhism  seem  to  have  the  hold  it  had  in  Japan, 
and  Shinto  Nowhere  else  were  there  such  temples,  so  steadily 
Strength  thronged,  so  gloriously  decorated,  so  filled  with 


57 


idols  so  venerated.”  There  are  more  than  twice  as  many 
Buddhist  temples  and  almost  five  times  as  many  Shinto 
shrines  and  temples  as  there  are  Protestant  Christians. 
For  every  Christian  there  are  two  Buddhist  priests,  and  for 
every  ordained  Japanese  minister  there  are  three  hundred 
and  forty -six  Buddhist  priests. 

The  religions  of  the  people  are  back  of  those  evils  which 
are  imbedded  in  the  life  of  the  nation.  The  masses  of  the 
lower  classes  blindly  follow  the  notoriously 
Blind  Followers  and  confessedly  immoral  priesthood.  The 
and  Skeptics  educated  classes  are  breaking  away,  and 
many,  knowing  nothing  better,  are  plunging 
into  rationalism  and  skepticism.  Between  these  two  what 
a responsibility  for  the  Church  of  Christ  which  bears  the 
commission  of  Him  who  has  “all  power!  ” 

Because  of  Japan’s  infiuence  in  the  far  East.  Geograph- 
ically she  holds  the  key  to  the  Orient  and  the  isles  of  the 
Pacific.  What  is  done  in  Japan  will  profoundly  infiuence 
all  the  nations  of 
The  Leader  eastern  Asia.  In 

of  the  Orient  her  schools  are 
students  from 
Manchuria,  Korea,  China, 

Formosa  and  India.  When 
the  recent  war-clouds  gath- 
ered over  China  her  Emperor 
appealed  to  the  Emperor  of 
Japan  for  help  against  the 
forces  of  the  West.  Japan’s 
reply  was,  in  substance,  “ You 
must  turn  toward  the  dawn 
or  be  lost  in  the  darkness.” 

To-day  China  welcomes  with 
confidence  the  good  offices 
of  her  little  neighbor.  Japan, 
unembarrassed  by  many  of 

the  essential  differences  in  marquis  h.  ito 

character  and  thought  which  Leading  Japanese  Statesman 


58 


must  be  overcome  when  Occidental  meets  Oriental,  can 
reach  with  comparative  ease  these  eastern  nations.  And 
there  is  reason  to  believe  that  with  the  same  aggressiveness 
which  characterizes  her  people  in  other  interprises  the 
Church  in  Japan  will,  as  soon  as  her  position  permits,  push 
the  conquest  for  the  Master  of  these  neighboring  peoples. 

A nation  plastic  and  responsive  is  receiving  the  impres- 
sions which  are  to  mould  its  form  and  future.  Japan  to  day 
presents  a challenge  to  the  Church.  Recruits  to 
The  Army  our  mission  forces  are  demanded,  and  they  must 
of  Conquest  come  from  the  ranks  of  the  young  people,  where 
also  is  the  larger  army  which  must  stand  loyally 
with  conse- 
crated  means 
and  with  that 
mighty,  irresist 
ible  volume  of 
prayer  which 
will  open  doors 
of  opportunity, 
cast  down  walls 
of  opposition, 
equip  workers 
for  service,  and 
bring  a rich 
fruition.  If  the 
Church  will 
take  advantage 
of  this  oppor- 
tunity, it  is  safe 
to  pledge  Japan 
as  “the  grand- 
est trophy  of 
modern  mis- 
sions.” 


THE  READING  LESSON 


59 


LITERATURE 

Recent  and  attractive  books  descriptive  of  Japan  and  of 
mission  work  in  the  Island  Empire  are  The  Gist  of  Japan, 
by  R.  B.  Peery,  51.25;  Japan  and  its  Regeneration,  by  Rev. 
Otis  Caiy,  paper,  35  cents,  net  ; cloth,  50  cents,  net  ; Hand 
book  of  Modern  Japan,  by  Ernest  W.  Clement  (1903),  51.40, 
net;  Rambles  in  Japan,  by  Canon  H.  B.  Tristram,  52.00,  and 
From  Far  Formosa,  by  G.  L.  Mackay,  51.25.  Very  forceful 
biographies  are  Verbeck  of  Japan,*  by  W.  E.  Griffis,  51.50, 
and  Life  and  Letters  of  Joseph  Hardy  Neesima,  52.00,  by  A.  S. 
Hardy,  or  his  career  under  the  title,  A Maker  of  Neiv  Japan, 
by  Rev.  J.  D.  Davis,  51.00.  Standard  works  for  a deeper 
study  of  the  country  and  people  are  The  Mikado’s  Empire. 
by  W.  E.  Griffi-:,  2 vols. , 54.00,  Japan,  by  J,  J,  Rein, 
57.50,  and  Evolution  of  the  Japanese,  by  S.  L.  Gulick,  52.00 
net.  These  and  other  mission  books  can  be  obtained,  through 
the  pastor,  of  the  Methodist  Book  Concern. 


THE  OPEN  DOOR  SERIES. 

Each  number  of  the  Open  Door  Series  of  Mission  Booklets 
is  issued  in  a cover  similar  to  that  on  this  number,  giving  a 
simple  outline  map  with  the  essential  facts  of  the  geography 
of  the  country  so  that  they  can  be  seen  at  a glance,  and 
some  things  cliaracteristic  of  the  land  and  a face  typical  of 
the  people.  The  one  on  India  has,  as  a background,  the 
beautiful  Taj  Mahal;  that  on  Korea,  the  queer  Korean  hat 
and  the  famous  national  emblem,  which  appears  on  all  the 
stamps  of  Korea.  It  will  be  noted  that  the  present  cover  has 
the  Japan’s  snow-capped  Fujisan  or  Fujiyama,  her  jinrik- 
isha,  blossoming  cherry,  sacred  lotus,  and  the  national 
flower,  the  chrysanthemum,  while  the  face  is  that  of  the 
most  eminent  Christian  among  her  sons.  Dr.  Joseph  Hardy 
Neesima. 

Each  of  the  booklets  has  an  excellent  and,  in  most  cases, 
a specially  prepared  map  covering  the  two  central  pages, 

* In  Mission.ii'y  Campaign  Library  Number  Two. 


60 


and  is  rich  in  carefully  selected  illustrations.  In  all  re- 
spects the  contents  are  strictly  up-to-date.  The  booklets, 
therefore,  will  prove  of  direct  value  to  Mission  Study 
Classes,  those  having  charge  of  missionary  devotional  meet- 
ings, pastors,  women’s  societies,  Sunday-school  workers, 
and  all  who  wish  the  most  compact  and  latest  information, 
accompanied  by  very  clear  maps  and  illustrations. 

Six  or  seven  other  booklets  are  planned  to  be  issued, 
covering  all  the  remaining  fields.  It  should  be  remembered 
that  in  each  booklet,  ivliile  oxir  own  missionary  work  is  es- 
pecially emphasized,  the  country  and  people,  the  native 
religions,  and  Christian  Missions  in  general  also  receive  at- 
tention, so  as  to  give  a complete  survey  of  the  field. 

The  uniform  price  of  ten  cents  per  copy,  postpaid,  for 
each  of  the  booklets  is  exceedingly  low,  considering  the 
high  quality  of  matter,  paper  and  press  work.  Send  all 
orders,  with  remittance,  to  The  Open  Door  Emergency  Com- 
mission, 150  Fifth  Avenue,  New  York. 

Now  Ready. 

The  Korea  Mission  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
By  Rev.  Henry  G.  Appenzeller,  D.D.,  late  Superintend- 
ent of  the  Mission. 

The  China  Mission  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

By  Rev.  Arthur  J.  Bowen,  Missionary,  Nanking,  China. 
The  India  Mission  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
By  Rev.  Jefferson  E.  Scott,  D.D.,  Presiding  Elder  of  the 
A j mere  District,  India. 

The  Japan  Mission  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
By  seven  eminent  missionaries  of  Japan. 


. - - 


I 


j 


vr.’ 


I 


'' V.  I . - 


